Funeral services at Southwestern for Nicole A. (Hillebrand) Mays

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 10:40 AM

By Staff report

Nicole A. (Hillebrand) Mays, 31, of Shelbyville, passed away Feb. 26.

She was born Jan. 1, 1995, in Greensburg, Indiana, to Patrick Hillebrand and Lisa (Cox) Brady.

Nicole graduated from Southwestern Jr./Sr. High School with the Class of 2013. She began working at Walmart for a short time before she started with Southwestern Elementary. Nicole found her true passion of teaching, guiding and comforting the kids at school.

She was involved with the after-school care program and enjoyed helping with the summer camp for the Boys and Girls Club. Nicole also enjoyed coloring with her kids and was an avid reader. She had a love for nature and being outdoors walking the rivers. She always made sure to capture every moment with her family because of her love for them and the art of photography. Nicole’s family and especially her children were the center of her world.

She married Joshua Mays on June 22, 2015, and he survives. They shared 15 wonderful years of love together and were married for 10 of those years.

She is also survived by her daughters, Autumn Marie Mays and Willow Grace Mays; son, Henry Eugene Mays; brothers, Shawn (wife, Candice) Hillebrand and Aaron Hillebrand; mother and father-in-law, Johnny and Tracy Mays; nieces, Kaitlyn and Sophia Hillebrand; nephew, Carter Gontermon and paternal grandparents, Alfred and Diana Hillebrand.

She was preceded in death by her niece, Brinlee Kay Gonterman.

Visitation will be Saturday, March 7, from noon to 5 p.m. at Southwestern Jr./Sr. High School in the gymnasium, 3430 W. 600 S., Shelbyville, Ind.

Funeral services will follow at 5 p.m. at the high school with Brian Ebersold officiating.

Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Nicole’s family.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Nicole Mays Memorial Fund in care of Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, Ind. (46176).

Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.