Akiko May

Mrs. Akiko (Kiko) May passed away at home surrounded by her family on December 21, 2020 in Kingsland, AR.
Born in Saga, Japan on September 3, 1935 to Kio and Teruji Hyakutake, Akiko had three brothers and one sister. As a child, she witnessed the atomic bombing of Nagasaki while preparing lunch with her mother. Upon graduating from high school, Akiko attended a sewing and design school for five years and began working as a seamstress in a tailor shop where she later met her husband, Allan, when he came in to have his naval uniforms tailored. They married in 1961 and celebrated the birth of a twin boy and girl (David and Judy) in Yokohama, Japan in 1962 and the birth of their daughter, Kay, in Millington, TN in 1965.
Akiko and Allan lived in many parts of Japan where he spent the majority of his naval career. They also lived in Tennessee, California and Virginia before returning to Allan’s hometown of Kingsland, AR to finish raising their family and eventually retire. Akiko proudly received her United States citizenship in 1969 while the family was stationed in California, and she remained an unofficial ambassador and gracious representative of her birth country.
Akiko loved to observe beauty in nature. She especially enjoyed walking the beach in retirement and looking for shells, sea glass and pretty rocks and watching the sunset with Allan. She took pride in her cooking and loved looking up new recipes (she was the best Japanese southern cook). Akiko also liked gardening, sewing and altering clothes for her family and community, exploring new crafts, traveling, dining out, shopping and caring for the many dogs she owned throughout her life. She always looked forward to going on new adventures. Akiko loved her family most of all, and her life was spent in service to them as she loved, nurtured, and shaped each one. She dedicated her life to her family and to caring for her beloved husband, ensuring he had his favorite breakfast of biscuits and sausage as often as possible.
Akiko will be remembered for greeting people with her warm hugs and welcoming smile, as well as her sweet nature and generous heart, which led to many contributions of her signature famous fried rice when there were opportunities to share her love and support within her community.
Akiko is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Allan; her eldest daughter, Judy Bingham and husband Eric of Whidbey Island, WA; her youngest daughter, Kay Spurlock and her life partner David Rodriguez, of Kingsland, AR; as well as her grandchildren Erianne (Michael), Aaron (Jessica), Kyle (Amy) and Alaina; and great-grandchildren Emily, Benjamin, Soren, Ella and Thorsten. She truly delighted in loving her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews in Japan. She was preceded in death by her parents, two older brothers, sister and infant son in Japan. Akiko’s life was a life well lived and loved by her and those who shared it with her. She served and inspired those who knew her with her love and will be forever missed.
No service will be held. Respects may be paid to the family at their home. Arrangements by Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.net .