When Mayes Robert Altom was born on 15 July 1914, in Greenville, South Carolina, United States, his father, John Mack Altom, was 33 and his mother, Susie Watson, was 29. He had at least 1 son with Etta Aleda Jones. He lived in Gantt, Greenville, South Carolina, United States for about 10 years and Gantt Township, Greenville, South Carolina, United States in 1940. He died in March 1983, in Greenville, Greenville, South Carolina, United States, at the age of 68, and was buried in Greenville, South Carolina, United States.