A native of Southern California, she was born and raised in "The Valley" (San Fernando) with her two sisters and brother to Roger and Mary Mays. She was baptized at Calvary Baptist Church in Pacoima, CA after accepting the Lord at seven years old.

She joined Parks Chapel AME Church in San Fernando, CA in February 1997 with her two daughters Ashlie and Natalya. There she served as a choir director until she and her family transferred to FAME Pasadena Church in 2006. In September 2006 she completed a BS in Human Services from The University of Phoenix. She attended San Francisco Theological Seminary and Claremont School of Theology to earn her Masters of Divinity in January 2014.

She served on staff at FAME Pasadena Church as Youth Minister from 2008 to 2013. She co-chaired the Prophetic Prayer, Bible Study and March after the Zimmerman verdict in July for the Pasadena community.  She also worked on the African American Males Conference held at Pasadena City College September 21, 2013.

 She is on the board of Progressive Christians Uniting. She is a member of the Antelope Valley NAACP. She has been a member of the National Council of Negro Women San Gabriel Valley since 2015.  She currently serves as the Treasurer for the So. CA Area NCNW. 

     Rev. Mays was ordained an Itinerant Deacon at the Southern CA Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church October of 2007 in Woodland Hills, CA. She was appointed her first pastoral charge as a Deacon to Bethel AME Church in Monrovia, CA at the 89th Session of the Southern CA Conference of the AME Church October 13, 2013. She served there from October 2013-October 2016. Rev. Melanie J. Mays was ordained an Itinerant Elder October 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, CA. She was appointed to St. John Holy Trinity in Littlerock (Sun Village), CA on October 27, 2016 and reassigned on October 27, 2022 to begin her 7th year. 

AME Church she serves on the Board of Examiners, Trustee Board and the Judicial Committee for the Southern CA Conference.

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