Peter Caldwell Mayo of Lawrenceville, GA, died October 10, 2012 at the age of 60 in Suwanee, GA of an apparent heart attack.
He was born on July 24, 1952 in Philadelphia, PA to Richard Henry Mayo and Elizabeth (Traub) Mayo who predeceased him. Over the course of his life he also lived in New Jersey, grew up in Dallas, Texas, and received his degree in History and American Literature from Linfield College in McMinnville, OR. He received his teacher training from the University of California, San Diego. He was in his 24th year of teaching and his ninth year at Sharon Elementary in Forsythe County where he taught fifth grade math and was a revered Master Teacher. Prior to that he taught for 10 years in Gwinnett County and four years in the San Diego, CA area. Before entering educational training, he managed bookstores in the San Diego area, and eventually opened up his own bookstore, Wordsworth Books, in Encinitas, California. Teaching was not just a profession for Peter; the encouragement and education of his students was forefront in his life. He was lauded by faculty and students alike for his ability to teach mathematical concepts and to encourage students to believe they could master them. An avid tennis player, reader and cook, Peter's house was full of books and there was always a gardening or landscape project in progress. During school breaks he could often be found hiking and camping. He was also an animal lover, "parenting" many cats over the years. His current "Alphabet Cats" A, B, C and D will certainly miss him. Peter is survived by his sister Jacqueline (Mayo) Hatch and her husband Randolph of Wellesley, MA and his brother Richard Michael Mayo and his wife Tina Feingold of Brookline, MA, and his nephews Geoffrey Randolph Hatch and his wife Katherine (Haggerty) Hatch of Frisco, TX, and Stephen Thomas Hatch and his wife Lorraine (Serritt) Hatch of Atlanta, GA and his nieces Meredith (Hatch) Bouton and her husband Owen Capers Bouton of Dunwoody, GA and Willa Rose Mayo of Cambridge, MA, as well as six great-nephews and nieces. As part of his close extended family, he is also mourned by Jon Mayes, his wife Nancy Butler and their children Julia and Colin of Lawrenceville, and by his school family at the Sharon Elementary School in Forsyth County and those from Suwanee Elementary in Gwinnett County.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at Flanigan's Funeral Home, 4400 S. Lee St., Buford, GA at 11 AM, preceded by a visitation hour at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Sharon Elementary School, 3595 Old Atlanta Road, Suwanee, GA 30024. The School is creating a memorial to Mr. Mayo in the D.I.G.S., an outdoor learning environment, to celebrate his life and love of gardening. Mr. Mayo also had a passion for literature and any remaining donations will go towards the renovation of the school's media center. To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA, 770-932-1133.
