Flint City Councilman Eric Mays has retired following a legal dispute

Eric Mays, a longtime alderman in Flint, Michigan, was finally laid to rest on March 23. His funeral was held almost a month after his death as a consequence of a legal dispute over the handling of his body.

His son, also Eric, filed a lawsuit v. Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, regardless that his older relatives contacted the corporate, the younger Mays lost the legal battle, in response to him. The judge found that he had did not contact the funeral home inside the statutory 72-hour period. By failing to achieve this, he lost the rights to make use of the corpse.

Ultimately, nonetheless, the funeral home waived the rights to the body of the deceased councilor in favor of his son. The funeral took place despite a week’s delay.

Elder Mays was first elected to the town council in 2013 and served until his death on February 24. According to M Live, he was a “strong-willed, polarizing man” member Advice.

“Mays was not afraid to tell the truth,” said Flint Councilwoman Tonya Burns. “He informed everyone that he was a black man from north Flint…Councilman Mays brought attention to local government courts, especially in urban areas with a black population. Councilman Mays fought for unions, the Flint water crisis, Esther House and more.”

Mays emerged as one in every of the primary elected officials in Flint to acknowledge the water crisis, using his platform to spread awareness in regards to the issue with local supporters. Before his death, he was serving a 90-day suspended sentence for misconduct and using “racist rhetoric” during a special meeting in December 2023. He died fighting the order.

Throughout his term, clashes with other Flint lawmakers led to his lawsuits against current Mayor Sheldon Neely, in addition to the police chief and other council members. He has tried to run for mayor in three different election cycles, most recently in 2022. Mays’ “Point of Order” slogan has made him popular on social media outside of Flint.

While his controversies often made headlines, his commitment to the town and community was undeniable. He died on the age of 65 and was buried at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Flint.