Like many Black music makers, Mayfield never finished high school. He dropped out when he was 16. He did so only because an opportunity came up that he could join the Impressions. His mother allowed him to join the group with the proviso that he continue to study. Mayfieldâs mother bought him up on Paul Lawrence Dunbar. He came out of home that had books. Anna Belle Mayfield, his grandmotherâs of the Traveling Soul Spiritualists Church helped develop him musically, spiritually and in business.