Iris Anderson Hayes

IRIS ANDERSON HAYES, age 77 of Vansant, Virginia passed away on Sunday February 4, 2024, at Holston Valley Medical Center. She had fought a long and hard battle with a weakened heart. She was born July 5, 1946, to Garland and Mamie Anderson. A graduate of Pikeville College, Iris earned a degree in Elementary Education. She taught in the Buchanan County School System for 30 years at Garden Elementary and Vansant Elementary Schools. She was passionate about learning and felt every student was an investment for a lifetime. She loved hearing about her students' achievements and fulfilled lives.
Serving others in the name of Jesus was of utmost importance to Iris. She had an innate ability to recognize others' needs and made every effort to meet them. After retirement, she was a chairperson for the American Red Cross in Buchanan County. She organized blood drives, and brought together a group of fantastic volunteers, fed, ministered to, and served those who came to donate life. Iris spent over 20 years volunteering at COPE food pantry and Feeding my Sheep and looked forward to meeting and loving those that came to be served. She never met a person she did not love and genuinely value. She lived her life by conviction to serve Her Heavenly Father and His people. Her motto was, "We are all God's people". Iris loved and served God with all of her big, beautiful heart. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were her greatest joy.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Fred Anderson; Sister-in-Law: Nila Anderson.
Those left to cherish her memory include her precious, devoted husband of 57 years, Paul Hayes, daughter Paula Hayes Batson and husband Arnold of Greenville South Carolina, son David Hayes of Simpsonville, South Carolina, sister Margaret Anderson Looney of Vansant, Virginia and brother Ralph Anderson and wife Peggy of Simpsonville, South Carolina.
She was also survived by grandchildren Anna Katherine Hale of Gray Court, South Carolina, Caroline Owens and husband Brandon of Pounding Mill, Virginia and Anderson Hayes of Simpsonville, South Carolina. Great grandchildren, Weston Owens of Pounding Mill, Virginia and Ellie Walker of Simpsonville, South Carolina, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Wednesday evening at 6:00 P.M.
Funeral Services for IRIS ANDERSON HAYES will be held on Thursday February 8th at 1:00 P.M. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Donnie Bailey and Rev. Creighton Smith officiating. Entombment will follow at Mountain Valley Memorial Park at Big Rock.
Active Pallbearers are Anderson Hayes, Don Hodock, Ron Ratliff, David White, Joe Lewis, Brandon Owens and Brooks Crumpton.
Honorary Pallbearers are the devoted volunteers at Feeding My Sheep Food Pantry.
Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy, VA, is honored to serve the family of IRIS ANDERSON HAYES.