How did may boatwright die in the secret life o bees?

May Boatwright does not die in "The Secret Life of Bees". She is very much alive and well at the end of the novel, though she does have some health issues.

The novel focuses on Lily Owens's journey to find her mother and her own sense of identity, with May acting as a mentor and source of wisdom. While the story explores themes of loss and grief, May herself does not face any major death-related events in the story.