Charlotte D. May, 79, passed away on February 15, 2026, in Louisville, KY. Formerly of Hernando, FL and Bowling Green, KY, she carried her Kentucky roots proudly wherever she lived.
Born in Indianapolis in 1946 to Clarence and Lula May, Charlotte was raised in Laurel County, the foundation of her loyalty, grit, and unmistakable voice. When she was 12, she welcomed her baby brother Billy, born with Down syndrome, whom she loved fiercely and protected deeply. That bond helped shape her lifelong instinct to stand up for the people she loved. Kentucky was not simply where she was from- it was who she was, and her lifelong devotion to Kentucky Wildcats basketball proved it. She truly “Bled Blue,” even while surrounded by Florida Gator fans during her many years in Florida.
After graduating from Lily High School, Charlotte trained as an X-ray technician at Corbin Hospital before ultimately finding her true calling in education. She earned her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Western Kentucky University and later completed her Masters of Education at National Louis University while working full time as a single mother.
Charlotte spent her entire teaching career with Citrus County Schools, working at Hernando Elementary and later Homosassa Elementary. She taught 4th grade, reading, and eventually 1st grade, helping generations of children learn to read and believe in themselves. She expected effort, valued honesty, and never hesitated to be direct. Many former students remember her as the teacher who pushed them and made them better.
After retirement, she moved to Bowling Green to live near her daughter Carrie (Halcomb) Regnier and son-in-law Joseph. However, her true purpose was her grandchildren, Jacob and Adeline. She followed their lives closely, celebrated loudly, worried faithfully, and bragged unapologetically. They were her heart.
Charlotte was outspoken, hard-headed, fiercely loyal, and entirely herself. She had a punchy, quick-witted sense of humor and a sharp tongue, but beneath it all she loved deeply and stood unwaveringly by her people. She loved to read with a cigarette in one hand and a Dr Pepper in the other. She made friends everywhere she lived and kept in touch with them for decades, carrying stories from every chapter of her life. She believed in saying what she meant, loving her people fiercely, and staying true to herself.
If you wish to honor her, cheer loudly for Kentucky, pick up a good book, call an old friend, and hold your grandchildren close.
A memorial visitation will be held February 18 from 2:30–6:30 P.M. EST at Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home East Louisville. Visitation will be held February 21 from 10–11 A.M. at Charles Davis Funeral Home in Inverness, FL with the funeral at 11 A.M. Burial will follow at 4:00 P.M.at Magnolia Cemetery in Lecanto, FL. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Down Syndrome of Louisville.
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