Mamma May, breaking all the traditions
NAME: Gail May Laban.
BORN: August 3, 1951, Durban.
PARENTS: Ramana and Paripurnam Laban. Father worked for the South African Railways and mother was a housewife.
EDUCATION: Clare Estate and Clareville Primary schools; Centenary High School,asherville; Education Diploma – Springfield College of Education; BA and BED – University of Durbanwestville; Diploma in Theology – Tee.college; Master’s degree in theology – University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
SIBLINGS: Brothers Devanundham and Devraj (deceased), sister Neela and brother Dan. May is the youngest.
FAVOURITE AUTHORS: John Maxwell and Joel Osteen. Loves magazines.
FAVOURITE FOOD: Nando’s. RELAXATION:WALKING on the beach, reading, cooking, watching TV.
IN SCHOOL:WAS very mischievous in class, but hard-working and achieved good results. Good, clean fun with classmates – in high school, college and when teaching.
Sport:“physical education was introduced only in my matric year. I am not one for the gym.”
FUN MEMORIES:“AS the first Indian woman priest in South Africa, people watched me closely. After participating in a funeral at St Aidan’s Church in Durban, a friend said:‘you did so well. Only remove the red sticker under your shoe’.” She had forgotten to remove the price tag from the shoes bought at a Woolworths sale.
ON PREPARING SERMONS:“THERE is always a pen and notebook next to my bed. I begin reading the appointed scriptures a week before, pray about it and reflect on a verse that draws my attention. I research information and illustrations. I sing in my shower and I have received my greatest insights in the shower.”
REGRETS: None. Fortunate in having two careers – teaching for 22 years and a priest for 25.