Aaron O. Hayes

On Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, our heavenly Father called home one of his beloved and faithful sons, Deacon Aaron O'Neal Hayes, CM.

Willie was born Sept. 22, 1948, in Hopewell, to the late Lloyd and Lottie Louisa Hayes. He was preceded in death by his sister, Louise Elizabeth Morton, and brothers, Lloyd, Morris and James Hayes, and a nephew, Robert Hayes, whom he loved as a son.

Willie accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. Several years later, he changed his membership to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. While at Pleasant Grove, he served on the Deacon Board, the Men's Ministry, the Substance Abuse Ministry, vice president of the Senior Ministry, and the chaired several committees.

Willie was a 1967 graduate of the Carter G. Woodson High School. He received degrees from John Tyler Community College and the Saint Leo College, where he majored in business management and human resource management. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and the sole proprietor of the Hopewell Gallery of Art Worcz. He also received his certified manager designation from James Madison University.

Willie was very active in the city of Hopewell, where he served on the Downtown Partnership, Black History Committee and the Redesign Committee, just to name a few.

Willie was a retired employee of Philip Morris USA/Park 500, where he managed several facilities. He was a teacher, mentor and inspiration to all under his tutelage.

As Willie begins his journey in Heaven, he leaves to cherish his precious memories: a loving and devoted wife of 40 years, Paulette Spratley Hayes; three daughters, Tracey Hayes-Graham (Will), Victoria Hayes and Tracy Stith-Johnson (Alphonso); his grandchildren, Semaj and Trenton Graham, Mikaylah and Jaidyn Johnson, who will miss their playful "Papa."

There will always be a special place in the hearts of Willie's sisters, Gladys Mason, Barbara Powell (Calvin), Yvonne Moore, Toni George, Kim Lee, Cindy Stevens (Gary), Carolyn Claiborne (Andrew), Janie Hayes and Jearil Stokes; 10 brothers, Robert Hayes (Ann), John Hayes (Brenda), Chester Hayes (Merentha), Gregory Moore, Clyde Morton, William Spratley, Michael Spratley (Zoe), Chris Spratley (Sandra), Manson and Quinton Lee; a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends, among them, a loving and devoted niece, Tyress Morton, who Willie loved like a daughter.

A funeral service will be held noon Friday, Oct. 15, at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Prince George, with the Rev. F. Lamont Gooding, pastor, officiating. The interment will be held in the church cemetery.

Funeral arrangements have been lovingly entrusted to the Turner-Bland Funeral Home, Hopewell, the Rev. W. Nelson Bland Jr., funeral director, www.blandenterprisesinc.com.