Emma H. Hayes

Emma H. Hayes

Emma was born in Eufala, Alabama on March 10, 1933. She was the first child born to James Herbert Hardaway and Eula Wilson Hardaway. The family moved to East Chicago, Indiana after the birth of Emma's brother Thomas V. Hardaway. Emma graduated from Washington High School in 1951 and attended Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington, Indiana where she received her Bachelor and Masters of Arts degrees in Education. While at IU, Emma was a charter member of the Eta Kappa Omega branch of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and a little sister and princess of the fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha. Although Emma received many awards in singing and oral interpretation, her love of children led her to become an educator. The youngest teacher hired in the East Chicago Public School District, she taught elementary school and special classes for children with reading disabilities for over 50 years. Emma loved to travel and learn about different cultures. After marrying Frank W. Hayes, she traveled the world visiting every continent with the exception of Australia and Antarctica. Her love of the theater and music were sources of delight in her life as were the many friends she made and students she taught while living in Lakenheath England, Fairfax Co. Virginia, Fairfield, Los Angeles and San Pedro California. Emma was a strong woman with great faith in God and humanity. She willingly gave of her time, attention and financial resources to many local causes and was a devoted worshipper at the Crystal Cathedral in Orange County. Generous of heart, she was also the ultimate positive thinker and could be relied upon to find the silver lining in any cloud. Emma retired from teaching in 2002, but continued her love of learning with Russian singing classes and classes in literature through the adult education center in San Pedro. Emma was loved by many and will be missed by all. Emma departed this life February 20, 2012. Preceded in death by her parents and younger brother, Thomas, she leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, Dana (Dennis ) Stone and Theresa Hayes Clark (Eric Browning); sisters, Ruth Gross of East Chicago Indiana, Linda (Richard) Calloway of Gary, Indiana, Kathryn Hardaway of San Francisco, California; brother, Dr. Sanford (Mildred) Wilson of La Plata, Maryland; sister-in-law, Earletta (Robert) Turner of Farmington Hills, Michigan; grandchildren, Glenn William Clark, Ryan Stone, Amanda (Kyle) Medley, Brandi Clark, Toi Clark, Aspen Clark; nieces Shirley Calloway, Lisa Calloway, Jaimi Calloway, Bonnie Jo Dykes, Kristi Wilson; nephews, Jesse D. Hayes IV, Frank J. Hayes, Robert Turner II, Rodriq Turner, Rodney Turner, Keith Wilson, Karlton Wilson and many other relatives, neighbors, and friends. Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 1:00pm in the mortuary chapel. Please sign the guest book at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.