Marie Iola Hayward

Sudduth Hayward

She was the second child born (the first child deceased at birth) to James A. and Marie Smith Jones in Denver Colorado. She was born January 24, 1941, and grew up in a loving, nurturing family with one sibling, Evelyn.

Marie attended Ebert Elementary School, Morey Jr. High School, and Manual High School, graduating in 1958. She then attended Barnes Business School where she received an associate’s degree and was immediately hired as an executive secretary at Caterpillar Tractor Trailer Company.

She was baptized at an early age at Campbell Chapel AME Church and later became an active member at Bryant Chapel AME Church until she moved from Denver, Colorado.

During her early years, Marie had a beautiful angelic singing voice. She participated in the choir and sang solos outside of the church. You could usually see a great big wide smile on Marie. She often did not talk much but responded with that smile and a certain stare in her eyes. Her message got through though... Her motto was “Always Be Happy”. One of her favorite things was playing Bid Whist every Friday night with her girlfriends.

In 1959, Marie married Gaudie W. Sudduth Jr., and from that union, three boys Gaudie III, James, and Reginald, were the delights of her life. As a young wife and mother, she worked full-time, and her added income helped purchase their first home. The marriage ended in a divorce, but Gaudie Jr. and Marie remained good friends until his death. Marie then remarried, taking the last name Hayward.

Marie lived most of her life in Denver, Colorado, and one day she told the family that she was moving to California to start a new life with a friend. From there she moved to Hawaii, North Carolina, and then to Florida, building a beautiful home and having a wonderful life.

Later there were signs that something was wrong. So, the family talked her into moving back to Colorado where they learned about her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. This is when we lost Marie for the first time. During Marie’s early stages of Alzheimer’s, she was surrounded by her family and friend’s love and exceptional care for several more years until her health failed. Then God led the family to this wonderful place called, Julia Temple Memory Care Center where Marie adjusted immediately. Everyone was relieved to see her happy, content, and with her big

wide smile intact. We lost Marie for the second time on December 25, 2024, when she entered into eternal rest. We remember this day because, as Marie would always say, “This day is one of the happiest days of the year.”

She leaves to cherish her memory, three sons Gaudie Sudduth III, James (Rachele) Sudduth, and Reginald (Carletta Lynn) Sudduth; sister Evelyn Simpson; grandchildren (7), and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.

Rest in peace Marie… We love you!