Lettie Mays was born and raised in Newton, Iowa. Her father Lewis Mays served in the Civil War in the 1st Colored Regiment of Iowa/US 60th Colored Troops. Her sister Vera Mays Williams was also active in the Des Moines church community.

Mays married W. E. Young on January 8, 1917 in Newton. The couple divorced and she later married Fletcher Thomas. Mays is listed as Lettie Thomas and served as a vocalist for a duet with her sister Vera in the program for the installation of Rev. A. Ross Brent at Maple Street Baptist Church on April 27, 1928.

She was divorced from Thomas in 1929. Mays then married David Mash in Indianola in 1935. She served in various roles for the Bethel AME Church in Des Moines. Her funeral was held at Bethel AME Church, and she is buried in Glendale Cemetery