Leonard Edward Hayes

Leonard Edward Hayes was born November 22, 1943 in St. Joseph, LA to Ethel Brown and Joseph Hayes and was also reared by his Aunt and Uncle, Easter (Brown) Joffrion and Leonard Joffrion. He was baptized at an early age at Pilgrim Chapel Baptist Church by Rev. A. E. Durham where he served as the Church Musician. He received his elementary and high school education at Tensas Rosenwald High School and graduated in 1961 as Salutatorian of his class. He received a full academic scholarship to attend Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA where he was active in various campus activities, particularly Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He graduated in 1965 with a BA Degree in Education. After serving in the military as an Intelligence Officer, he attended Saint John XXIII Seminary in Weston, MA and later obtained a Masters Degree in Special Education from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, PA. His professional career began in Tensas Parish, continued in East Baton Rouge Parish, and concluded at the Louisiana Department of Education where he served as Supervisor of Gifted and Talented; Special Education Specialist for the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE); and he retired in 1994 as Superintendent of The Special School District. Leonard was a devout Catholic and member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his son Michael Alexander; kindred mother Ruth Hayes; sisters Twila Hayes, Delores Bell, Betty Hardeman, and JoAnn Hayes-Nelson and husband Darryl; a host of first cousins and other extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Joseph Hayes, Jr. and a first cousin who was like a brother to him, Edward Lee Brown. A memorial mass will be held at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 2025 Stuart Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA at 12 noon on Friday, January 29, 2021. Leonard's family extends their sincere appreciation to his Church family, close friends, coworkers and others in the community for their support and expressions of sympathy during this difficult time.