1963 1

Rev. Spurgeon Jay Mayfield (March 26, 1896 – August 18, 1978) was a pastor who served community churches in some of the WWII-era temporary housing projects, including Harbor Homes, Auditorium Village and Bay View Villa.

Mayfield was born in Georgia on March 26, 1896, according to his gravestone. 2 However, early census data suggests a birth date closer to 1890. He was the second or fourth oldest of 11 children of farmers Charley and Cornelia Mayfield.

In the 1930 census, he was listed as a Methodist Pastor at Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA.

He married Berry Mae Ode (Mayfield) (July 31, 1903 – August 16, 1952) and they had a daughter, Sara Ann Mayfield (Ford) (February 18, 1936 – October 28, 2009) while they were living in Corpus Christi, Texas.

During WWII Mayfield served as a chaplain and was a captain in the U.S. Army. He was released from duty in 1947 while serving as chaplain at Fort Mason in San Francisco. 1

His name appears in events at Bay View Villa Community Church in 1947–1954, 5 Auditorium Village in 1955–1957, and Harbor Homes in 1955–1962. 4 All of the churches and surrounding housing projects were eventually demolished. 1

Mayfield died August 18, 1978. He and Berry are buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno.

Links and References

  1. Friends Plan Dinner for Pastor Oakland Tribune February 6, 1963
  2. Spurgeon Jay Mayfield on FindAGrave.com
  3. Church Dedicates Youth Center Here Oakland Tribune November 29, 1959
  4. Oakland Girl Scouts Camp Out in Churchyard Oakland Tribune July 4, 1962
  5. Church in Bayview Villa Holds Open House Today Oakland Tribune March 23, 1952
  6. obituary for Rev. Spurgeon Mayfield Oakland Tribune August 24, 1978
Edit tags