Zachary Hudson Mayo, age 57, of Lake Charles, La. passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023.  Zachary, known to his friends and family as Zach, was born Nov. 15, 1966, in Lake Charles to Bradford Mayo and Diane Vodrey Mayo. 

Zach graduated from St. Louis Catholic High School in 1985 and from Centenary College in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education where he ran cross-country.  Zach later pursued a master’s degree in world missions and evangelism from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky.  He served with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church in the Appalachian Service Project in Kentucky and later in the New Mexico Mission School. In Khaborovsk, Russia, Zach served as a member of the Mission Society’s Co-Mission Team as a US-2 Missionary.  One-on-one evangelism was a passion for Zach and one of the places he ministered was on the streets of Austria.

In 1980, Zach achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

Zach was a very private person and over the years he wrote songs and poetry about his life which he shared with only a select few.  One place he was most happy was with his black lab, Sammy.

  Zach was preceded in death by his father, Bradford Mayo.

 Those left to cherish his memory are his mother, Diana Vodrey; stepmother, Ann Mayo; brothers, Thaddeus and Joshua; sisters, Stephanie Starkovich and Mariah Fine, and seven nieces and nephews.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. until time of the service at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, at J.E. Hixson Funeral Home in Lake Charles in the Chapel of Lily’s with Reverend Weldon Bares officiating. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be expressed at JEHixson.com for Zachary’s family.