Apostle Rufus Hayes Sr.

1925 - 2022

Apostle Rufus Hayes was born to the late Ester and Leila Beale in Tyler, Texas, on May 18, 1925. Educated in the local school system, he began a life of service at age 16 when he entered the United States Armed Forces.

A member of the Army, Rufus Hayes served his country during World War II, including the beaches of Normandy, France. He was honorably discharged and continued working for the government in the United States Foreign Science Division in Washington, D.C.

While in Washington, D.C., Brother Rufus Hayes was baptized and saved under the leadership of Apostle Smallwood E. Williams at the historic Bible Way Temple at 1100 New Jersey Avenue. He served in many capacities at his local church, including as a special ministry assistant to his pastor and leader. Brother Hayes did whatever his hands found to do at his local church and loved discovering the hidden truths of the Bible and sharing the revelation of the word of God as a prolific Sunday School Teacher.

Elder Rufus Hayes accepted his call to ministry and established the founded the Louisa Bible Way Church (now known as First Bible Way Church), which he pastored until the Lord sent him to Charlottesville, Virginia. In June 1965, Pastor Hayes founded the Charlottesville Church of Christ, leading that congregation until his retirement in 2014. The Charlottesville Church of Christ began with six members and few resources. However, the Lord continued to build the work and expand the ministry. Pastor Hayes had a vision to build God a house in the city and found a location situated upon a hill. Despite the challenges of building on this rock, the vision became a reality. The local church was housed at 501 Commerce Street until 1990, when the congregation victoriously marched from Commerce Street to the present location at 990 Fifth Street SW. Pastor Hayes was elated to see what the Lord had done and that his pastor, Apostle Smallwood E. Williams, was able to officially dedicate the new edifice.

Pastor Hayes was a kingdom worker and builder since receiving salvation. He served the Bible Way Church on the local, district, diocese, and national levels. In addition to building churches in Louisa and Charlottesville, he also planted churches in Waynesboro and Staunton, Virginia. He loved the foreign field, ministering in Africa, Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and taking delegations over to Jerusalem. He often hosted delegates from Africa, Jamaica and Trinidad in his home.

A lover of God’s word and Bible Scholar, Apostle Hayes received both master’s and doctoral degrees in Theological Studies from the Virginia Seminary in Lynchburg, Virginia and was a fixture at the annual Ministerial Conferences at Hampton University (formerly Hampton Institute) in Hampton, Virginia. He trained ministers, preachers, pastors, and Sunday School teachers to get them certified and equipped to handle and deliver the gospel and rightly divide the word of truth.

Apostle Rufus Hayes was a pastor par excellence and man of integrity and conviction. He loved the members of the Charlottesville Church of Christ and was revered throughout the community, without regard for religious affiliation. On May 18, 2008, the mayor proclaimed that date as “Bishop Rufus Hayes Day� on the occasion of his 83rd birthday. The city further acknowledged his contributions to the city with an honorary street named “Bishop Rufus Hayes Way� in 2017. Although he could sometimes be stern, his passion and desire was to see the saints make it to heaven. He offered wise counsel, was generous beyond measure, and preached the unadulterated word of God, especially during his “Gospel Sermonette� Radio Broadcast on WINA radio station for 50 years.

Apostle Hayes was also a family man who enjoyed being with his family attending holiday meals, graduations, and family functions. He loved to laugh and he never allowed a family gathering to end without prayer. He especially appreciated the time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was so proud of each of them.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by companions, Lula Mae Hayes and Mother Betty Hayes; sons, Elder Rufus Hayes Jr., Elder Charles Hayes Sr., Joseph King, Harry B. King Sr., and Deacon Russell King Sr.; daughters, Cinderella Hayes and Shirley Cook; and sisters, Ethel, Essie, Cornelia and Revordia.

He leaves to cherish his memory and celebrate his legacy his wife, Elder Minnie Hayes; his children, Diane Hayes, Paul Hayes (Song), Eleanor Alston, Rufus Williamson (Grace), Kent Williamson, and Wendell Williamson (Shirley); one son-in-law, John Cook; daughters-in-law, Rosemary Hayes, Michelle King, Glenda King; grandchildren, Angela Hayes, Charles Hayes Jr., Kimberly Hayes, Michael Hayes, Sharma Richardson, Christina Robinson, Joanna Cook, Kesha Hayes, Raymond Richmond, Joy Richmond, Jennifer Hayes, Betty Wilson, Sheila Berry, Harry King, Althea King, Mattie Ann King, Russell King Jr., Leslie King, and Krista King; special niece, Gladys Blanford; a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, the Charlottesville Church of Christ family, many spiritual sons and daughters, and countless lives and souls he impacted with his ministry and message.

He will lie in repose on Thursday, August 18, 2022, from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Charlottesville Church of Christ, 990 5th St. SW. A local memorial service will follow at 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 19, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Charlottesville Church of Christ. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Arrangements by J.F. Bell Funeral Home Inc. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guestbook at www.jfbellfuneralservices.com.