Fay Madeline Hayes-Washington

Fay Madeline Hayes-Washington, 96, of New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away on December 29, 2024 of natural causes.
Fay was born on July 26, 1928 as the second oldest of ten children to Clinton Hayes and Ernestine Alexis in New Orleans, Louisiana. After Fay graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1946, she went on to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse, or LVN.
Fay started her first job at Haskell in New Orleans at 14 years old after "misrepresenting" her true age, and worked as a seamstress upon moving to Los Angeles, California, before attending night school together with her sister Una to learn nursing. She went on to work at Lincoln Hospital on Soto Street in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles for over 25 years.
In 1948, Fay married Edward Joseph Washington of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, himself from a family of twelve children. Fay and Edward went on to have three children, Marilyn Washington, Peggy Dow, and Kirk Washington; five grandchildren, Una Dow, Ronald Dow Jr., Margo Diego, Wade Washington, and Jessica Washington; and five great-grandchildren, Jordan McKenzie, Morgan Dow, Christopher Dow, Journey Diego, and Edward Diego Jr.
In 1983, Fay retired, moved back to New Orleans to care for her mother Ernestine, then her father Clinton until their passing, and spent her time with family, and babysitting, caring for, and assisting with raising the next generation of the Hayes family.
Fay was preceded in death by her husband Edward Washington and daughter Marilyn Washington. She is survived by her children Peggy Dow, and Kirk Washington.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend Funeral Services honoring the life of Mrs. Fay Madeline Hayes-Washington at Duplain W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave. New Orleans, LA on Monday, January 6, 2025, at 1:00 pm. Visitation will begin at 12:00pm until 1:00pm. Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery. Arrangements by Duplain W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA 70125. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook, share memories, and condolences to the family.