Geneva Hale Hayes

Opal Geneva "Susie" Hale Hayes was born April 17, 1921 in, Sparta, Tennessee to Samuel Escol Hale and Sophia Jane Dodson Hale. She was a lifetime Methodist; baptized in Caney Fork River at Fraser's Chapel Church in 1930.

As a 1940 graduate of White County High School, she was a member and officer of the Niobian Literary Society. She married Willard Lincoln Hayes on October 28, 1939 during her senior year in White County High School. After her graduation, Willard got a job with the Navy and they relocated to the metropolitan Washington, District of Columbia and then later moved to the suburban Maryland area. During the 1940's she raised four daughters and participated as room mother for elementary schools, WWII stamp lady, Riverdale Baptist Church Sunday School teacher, and Girl Scout leader. Thereafter she became active in the University Methodist Church, College Park, MD and Prince George's County, MD Women's Club, studied china painting and became a teacher of porcelain art with "Susie's Girls" and member of Potomac China Painters Association. Upon returning to Sparta, TN in 1974, she continued activities as a Methodist including being Greeter at Sparta First UMC, member Friendship Sunday School class, member of United Methodist Women and Christian Women's Club. All the while, she cared for her aging parents and continued with teaching the craft of porcelain art in local White County. She was active with the Business & Professional Women's Club in White County and was a member in Tennessee Porcelain Art Club, the local Arts Club, and was an International Porcelain Artist exhibiting and donating her artwork. In addition, family matters such as attending Dodson, Davis, Austin reunions and organizing the Hale Reunion were priorities that led to becoming a charter member of the White County Genealogical Historical Society and a lifetime member of the Van Buren County Historical Society.

She is survived by her four daughters; Christine Miller of Hickory Valley, Jean Rader of Hixson, Geneva Hayes of Sparta, and Sharon Simmons of Spencer; is a proud grandmother to Jonathan (Lisa) Halstead, Bruce (Theresa) Fike, Denise Qualls, Robert (Debbie) Honaker, Erin (Wesley) Hutchings, Melissa Rader, Brian Miller, Michael (Kristi) Honaker, Katherine (Chad) Garland, Daniel (Paige) Honaker. She has ten great grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren and many step-­grands, step-great-grands and step-great-great-grands.

Preceded in death by her parents; her sister Ruby Lee Hale; her husband Willard Lincoln Hayes; her sons-in-law: Rudolph Miller, Rex Rader, Joe Honaker.

In lieu of flowers donations may be designated to Sparta First United Methodist Church or Fraser's Cemetery or Lost Creek Cemetery c/o Thurman Funeral Home, 44 N. Main St., Sparta, TN 38583

Arrangements:

The family will receive friends on Friday May 2, 2025, at Sparta First United Methodist Church in Sparta, TN from 4:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m.

The service will be held on Saturday May 3, 2025, at 1:00 pm at Sparta First United Methodist Church in Sparta, TN and officiating will be Bro. Jeff Guth. Interment will follow in the Fraser's Chapel Cemetery.