Memorial services are planned in the coming week in Winston-Salem and in Davidson in honor of Ben May, a 31-year-old Davidson native who passed away in Redmond, Wash., two weeks ago.

Mr. May’s family has organized “A Service of Death and Resurrection for Benjamin Lewis May” on Monday, March 29, from 11 a.m. to noon at Wait Chapel of Wake Forest University, in Winston-Salem. A reception will follow at Benson University Center. (If you use Facebook, here’s the Facebook event link.)

Meanwhile, here in Davidson, friends will gather on Friday, April 2, for an informal memorial service. It’s scheduled at 7 p.m. at the old kickball field next to the spirit rock at the Davidson IB Middle School, on South Street (the former Davidson Elementary School, which Mr. May attended as a child).

Ben’s childhood classmates have organized the event as a “time of remembrance, witness to the resurrection, and celebration of friendship and life.” They invite attendees to bring a poem, reading, photos, or prayers to share.

“This time is not meant to replace the service at Wake Forest University but to provide a time for those in the area to come together in grief and hope,” local organizers said.

To help out at the Davidson service or for more information, please contact Mary Katherine Duncan at mkduncan@uncg.edu.

Mr. May died two weeks ago in Redmond, Wash., where he had moved a couple of years ago to be with his girl friend, Nichole Almond. Mr. May grew up on South Street and attended Davidson Elementary School and North Mecklenburg High School. He was a 2001 graduate of Wake Forest University and worked in financial aid at Wake Forest after his graduation.

Two years ago, he moved to the Seattle area, and worked as a data management analyst at Starbucks Coffee Co. from March 2008 to June 2009.

See our previous coverage of Ben May’s death under the “Ben May” tag.