Ann Maynard Obituary, In Loving Memory Of Ann Maynard

Ann Maynard Obituary, Death – Ann Maynard, one of the most adored members in the RSPA’s 75-year history and the first woman inducted into the RSPA Retail Technology Industry Hall of Fame, has passed away. Ann died of a heart attack on August 2, the morning after our association’s annual trade exhibition and conference, RetailNOW 2023. Ann and her spouse B.J. were the principals of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-based reseller Merchant Data Solutions. What Ann meant to our community, and what our community meant to her, is difficult to articulate. She was instrumental in accumulating funds for the RSPA Scholarship Program.

Every RetailNOW, including this year, she could be found at the RSPA exhibit and in the show corridors collecting funds for children. The RSPA Scholarship Program has awarded families of RSPA member companies nearly $3 million to date. Ann led a team of RetailNOW 2022 volunteer members to raise a record amount of nearly $8,000 for the RSPA Scholarship Program. Ann handcrafted butterfly magnets and presented them to each donor. Each magnet featured the following inscription: “The Butterfly Effect: A moment that redefines philanthropy by allowing us to donate to our cause, one butterfly at a time.” Ann was also present when Terry Zeigler of Datacap Systems announced a donation of $50,000 to establish the Datacap Systems Scholarship.

Ann was unable to attend the RSPA Inspire leadership conference in Hawaii in 2023, but she was still present in spirit as volunteers raised nearly $6,000 for the Scholarship Fund and donors received additional butterfly magnets. Twenty member volunteers raised a record just over $20,000 for the Scholarship Fund at this year’s RetailNOW. Ann organized a silent auction of a currency till box from 1875 that raised $1,300. It was her last act of compassion after 78 years of being kind to others.

Ann exemplified the definition of compassion. Before leaving this year’s show, I wished to say farewell to Ann. When I stopped by the RSPA booth just before the expo hall closed, she was signing one of her butterfly magnets for a temporary employee employed by RSPA to assist with registration. This employee was one of dozens (if not hundreds) of RetailNOW attendees who made it a point to locate Ann, give her a hug, and shake her hand at the conference. Maya Angelou once penned, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Ann Maynard gave us all the feeling of being adored.