Rev. Richard Earl "Dick" Hayes

Rev. Richard 'Dick' Earl Hayes

BRIDGEWATER, Va. - Rev. Richard "Dick" Earl Hayes, 75, passed away on Friday, June 12, 2009, at his home in Bridgewater. Rev. Hayes was born on Nov. 6, 1933, in Pittsburgh, Pa., and was the son of the late John Alvin and Ruth Makepeace Hayes. Rev. Hayes received his Bachelor's Degree in History in 1956 from the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn. He received a Master's of Divinity Degree from the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University, was a Graduate student in Pastoral Care and Spirituality at Loyola College, a Graduate student in Family Systems and Congregational Life at Eastern Mennonite University, and was a member of the Fellow of the College of Preachers at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. On June 6, Rev. Hayes celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination. He spent four decades serving, planning, developing and enabling congregations, especially those struggling, conflicted, or in some way in need of revitalization and encouragement. Many of those years included working with vestries, training and leading lay leaders' retreats and a wide variety of parish educational events. He gave fifteen years of service as a parish vacancy consultant. Most recently he served in the Diocese of Virginia as part of a six member Mountain Mission team across the Blue Ridge. He served as a Stephen Ministry Trainer and Leader, and also as a mentor of new trainers for Sewanee's Education for lay Ministry Program. Rev. Hayes was the Canon to the Ordinary and assistant to five different Bishops for ministry development. He served as Deployment Officer and Pastor to Clergy Families. He provided the general leadership and management of the various Diocesan support services and programs in the Dioceses of Wyoming, Southwestern Virginia and Easton, Md. He served as Chair of the Commission on Ministry, Examining Chaplain. He trained and was active as a Spiritual Director. Rev. Hayes served on the staff of two different Cursillo (Renewal Weekend) teams. He developed and taught in The School for Total Ministry in The Diocese of Easton, Md. He most recently served a nine year term as a Board Member of the Corporation for Relief of Widows and Children of Episcopal Clergy, in Baltimore, Md. Rev. Hayes trained in leadership and organization development. He served as authorized national trainer in Christian Education and Evangelism Ministries throughout the Episcopal Church. He was elected as a member of the National Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. He was elected by laity to represent them as a deputy to many annual General Conventions of the 108 Dioceses of Episcopal Church. He was appointed by the Presiding Bishop to the first National Task Force on World Hunger. He served as a member of the National Partners-Mission Consultation in USA. He served many years as an independent contract consultant to various diocese and seminaries. On April 23, 1960, he married Harriett Ullery, the love of his life, with whom he built joyous friendships with their children. In addition to his wife, Rev. Hayes is survived by one daughter, Harriett "Betsy" Hayes, and husband Daniel Finseth of Bridgewater; two sons, Jon "Jack" Hayes and wife Karen, of El Sobrante, Calif., and Richard "Rich" Hayes and wife Meghan of Nashville, Tenn. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas and William Hayes. A Memorial Service will be conducted at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Harrisonburg. In lieu of flowers and because of his dedication to revitalizing and sustaining small churches, memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd of the Hills, P.O. Box 31, Free Union, VA 22940-0031; or to St John's Chapel, 1213 Hudson Rd, Cornersville, MD, 21613.