The Kempsey community has lost one of its brightest and strongest members, but the generous and kind heart of May Gill will live on through the legacy she has left behind.
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May passed away at Kempsey District Hospital on Tuesday afternoon after a long battle with cancer, she was the beloved wife of Greg, mother and mother in law of Marion and Craig, Steven and Deborah, Tony and Vanessa, Colin, Vicki, Mick and Leanne and Robert. She is survived by her 19 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
Members of the community would know May from her devotion and dedication to the Kempsey SES, where she volunteered for 30 years.
"She would often go and help in emergencies across the state, and the SES always supported her," Greg said.
"We hated being apart but she knew that when she needed to help, she had to go and do it."
Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey posthumously awarded May with the 2019 Local Woman of the Year Award for Oxley.
May knew she would be receiving the award and her family today accepted it on her behalf.
"She touched everyone in the community and she had such a generous heart and soul," Ms Pavey said.
"She wasn't just appreciated by her family, but by the whole Kempsey community.
"I'm glad that she knew about the award, it is a great honour and it's one she deserved."
May received a Lifetime Member of the SES in July last year, an award she said she was happy to receive but that it was due to the support of the whole Kempsey SES.
"She was always helping out in the community," Greg said.
Since Greg posted on Facebook about May's passing yesterday, there have been over two hundred tributes that have flowed in. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that May touched everyone in the Kempsey community with her kind heart in one way or another.
May will be missed by everyone in the community, but especially by her family.
"She was my wife, soul mate and best friend. The family take comfort in this sad time knowing she is now at peace and pain free," Greg said in the Facebook post.
May dedicated her heart and soul to the Macleay community and into everything she did and she never stopped contributing to the community.
The family would also like to thank the staff at Kempsey District Hospital for their support and kindness over the last couple of weeks.
May's funeral will be held tomorrow at Walkers Crematorium in Frederickton at 2pm. The family request that those who attend wear something light blue or orange in recognition of her years of service to the SES or her favourite colour green.
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