Mary Louise Hayes' Obituary
Mary Louise was born in Federalsburg, MD to John Wright Haines and Olivia Elsie Cephas-Haines on August 21, 1924. the middle child with ten siblings, she attended elementary school in the Wilmington School System. She later attended Greenwood School No. 222C and Phillis Wheatley School in Bridgeville, DE.
She married the late Preston Howard Hayes, Sr. and from that union six children were born. She also helped raise many foster children in her home.
For years she was a line worker at Dulany Food Processing. Later, she was employed in food service at Dillard’s Restaurant, Greenwood County Rest Home, Seaford Manor House and Milford School District Cafeteria.
Mrs. Hayes was a member of Williams Chapel Church in Bridgeville under the pastorship of her cousin the late Rev. Charles DeShields. She was on the usher board until her health began to fail. She was also a member of the Bridgeville Home Demonstration Club, the Bridgeville Senior Center and assistant leader of the Greenwood Helping Hands 4H Club. She enjoyed sewing and needle craft. In later years, when health afforded, she was privileged to be ministered to by her cousin Pastor Stanley Ricketts.
In addition to her parents, nine siblings, aunts and uncle, she was preceded in death by her husband Preston, Sr. and son Preston, Jr.
She leaves to cherish her memory, one son Curtis Hayes (spouse Virginia) of Greenwood, her primary caregiver; four daughters, Vanessa Hayes of Bridgeville, Hospice helper, Shirley Fountain of Milton, hospice helper, Phyllis Dixon (spouse Delbert) of Greenwood, hospice helper, and Joyce Hayes of Greenwood; two sisters, Mildred Rosss and Olivia Savage of Greenwood, 15 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Marie Batson of Dover and Phyllis Haynes of Wilmington, one brother-in-law, Marl Hayes of Greenwood, a God-daughter, Etsie Jenkins-Hill, and numerous foster children, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
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