Evelyn May (Wilson) Hayes

Evelyn M. Hayes, 92, of 9th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, and former Jefferson, Ohio resident, died Saturday morning, August 11, 2018, at home following a brief illness. The daughter of Robert and Eleazer (Fields) Wilson, she was born June 5, 1926, in Lucy, Tennessee, and relocated to Washington, DC in 2000, after previously living in Jefferson, OH from 1950-1999. She was educated at the Shelby County Boarding School and married Willie N. Hayes on December 11, 1944, in Memphis, Tennessee. 

During her life, Mrs. Hayes held many positions, which included working at Yoder Brothers as a Horticulturist; Ashtabula County Head Start Program; School Board Vice President of Jefferson Area Local Schools; Hayes Construction Company, a family business, in Cleveland, OH; and the District of Columbia Foster Grandparent Program. 

Mrs. Hayes’ greatest love and passion was caring for her home and family. She raised 16 children, and was a dedicated mother to many through fostering, adoption, and others that crossed her path. She took great pride in spending time with loved ones, enjoyed attending family events, as well as keeping up with family and friends through phone calls. A wise woman, Mrs. Hayes was an advocate of lifelong learning and placed a strong emphasis on education. This is evident in the academic accomplishments of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Strong in her faith, Mrs. Hayes lived a life devoted to Christ. A charter-member of the People’s Baptist Church in Ashtabula, OH, she served as a Deaconess, Sunday schoolteacher, and nurse. In recent years, she was a member of the People’s Community Baptist Church in Silver Spring, MD. Her favorite pastime was watching the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) daily.

Mrs. Hayes will be dearly missed by her loving family, Cathie L. Carlton of Margate, Florida; Emyrtle Bennett of Washington DC; Raybert Hayes of Sanford, Florida; Sherwin V. Hayes, Vanessa D. Burchett, and Courtney K. Hayes of Washington DC; Sandra M. Stevenson of Glendale, California; Reginald J.(Mary) Hayes, Jynette T. Hayes, Lynette (Kenny) Clausell, and Laura Hayes of Columbus Ohio; Samantha Hayes of Washington, DC; Mark G. Hayes of Columbus, Ohio; Matthew J. Hayes of Houston, TX; devoted “play daughters,” Jean Brown and Christine D. Namutebi of Washington DC; 25 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; 1 sister-in law, Mae Emma Johnson, of Cleveland, OH; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and her beloved dog, Moses.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Eleazer Wilson; her beloved husband, Willie N. Hayes; and her children, Willie C. Hayes and Quinnetta L. Norman.

Funeral services will be Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 10:30 AM at People’s Baptist Church, 3837 West Ave., Ashtabula with the Rev. Germain Womack officiating.  Burial will be in S. Denmark Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 9:30-10:30 AM prior to the service.  The Fleming & Billman Funeral Homes and Crematory and staff, Jefferson, Ashtabula & Geneva are honored to serve the Evelyn Hayes family.  Visit fleming-billman.com to view obituary, express condolence, send a flower or light a candle.

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