A Heart for Her Community: Remembering Mayme

Few people leave an impression that transcends everything they were involved in or touched. One of those people was Mayme Wallace, a beloved community leader in Barbourville who passed away on Sunday, June 15 at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. News of her passing rippled through Knox County like the final bell of a beloved teacher’s class. At 73, Mayme Wallace had not simply lived in Barbourville — she had helped shape it.

Hundreds of comments and posts to social media surrounding her brief illness and passing testified to the impact Mayme had on several generations of people in Knox County.

Her story begins here. Born in 1951 to Chester and Katherine Wallace, Mayme grew up in the very community she would later serve so fiercely. She was a local girl with deep roots, the kind who never met a stranger and even when she did, they left as a new-found friend. 

It was at Union College, in the very town she grew up in, that Mayme truly bloomed. Crowned Homecoming Queen in 1974, she was a natural leader with a big smile and a warm heart. She joined student government, was active with various student organizations, and left a mark not just on student life but in the hearts of classmates who still tell stories of her spirit and character.

But it wasn’t recognition Mayme wanted — it was impact. After graduation, she dedicated her career to those who often go overlooked. She worked with individuals with intellectual disabilities and helped form a Special Olympics team that competed at state games each year. Later, she turned her energy toward schools. Hired by Knox County Schools, Mayme developed drug education programs, helped launch the county’s first Fright Night — now a Halloween staple — and helped introduce the D.A.R.E. program to local classrooms. Every October, her “Red Ribbon Week” campaigns brought messages of hope and prevention to thousands of students.

Mayme found her professional home in teaching consumer science at Knox Central and later Lynn Camp High School. Former students remember her classes not just for life skills, but for life lessons — about kindness, responsibility, and community.

At the center of it all was Mayme’s faith. A devoted member of St. Gregory Catholic Church, she called the day of her baptism “the best day of her life.” 

She guided new converts, mentored parishioners, cooked for fundraisers, and sat at the side of friends during hard times. “Her love for St. Gregory was deep and unwavering. Simply put, no one will ever fill her role in that community,” said Father Peter Joseph, former pastor of St. Gregory.

Outside of work and worship, Mayme was the life of every gathering. A proud member of the Red Hat Society, the Barbourville Women of Vision, and Ya-Ya Sisterhood — Mayme was never far from laughter or a story.

At the time of her death, she was still serving on the boards of Cumberland River Behavioral Health and KCEOC — a final testament to her lifelong belief in lifting others up.

Following her passing, KCEOC posted to its Facebook page a message honoring Mayme’s legacy: “Mayme was a tireless advocate for children, the underserved, health, and education. Her active spirit and loving disposition touched the lives of many, and she was truly beloved by all who knew her. We are incredibly grateful for her unwavering willingness to serve and give back to the community she cherished.”

A send-off fitting for Mayme took place over the weekend, with visitation and Rosary Service on Friday, June 20, a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, followed by a large reception following at Barbourville City School’s rock gym.

A complete obituary can be found in the obituary section of our website.