Laura Sue (Strickland) Hays

A memorial service celebrating the life of Laura Sue Strickland Hays will be held at Brunswick Islands Baptist Church on September 2nd at 3:00 pm with family visitation one hour before the service. Laura Sue, born October 9, 1935 in Cairo, Georgia passed away on Thursday morning, August 29th with her family at her bedside. She was 83 years old. Earlier in August, Laura Sue celebrated 65 years of marriage to the love of her life, Garrett Alfred Hays Jr. During those 65 years, she was a military wife and a pastor’s wife. Together, Laura Sue and Garrett served many churches in North Carolina to include Parkersburg Baptist, Bunn Baptist and Dortches Baptist as well as several churches in Europe to include Denmark, Germany and Spain. Laura Sue was actively involved in the ministry of each church. This included singing in the church choir, teaching Sunday school, working with the WMU (Women’s Missionary Union) as well as actively mentoring many young women in the church and the surrounding community. After raising their family, Laura Sue returned to college to pursue her love of caring for others and became a Registered Nurse. After many years of dedicated nursing, Laura Sue retired from Nash Grove Manor as their Assistant Director of Nursing. Retirement did not end her career of caring, as she continued to dedicate her life to caring and loving those who needed her. Laura Sue’s presence, love, wisdom and gentle caring will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know her. Laura Sue was preceded in death by her parents George and Tronnie Bell Stickland, her sisters Mildred Brookins and Marilyn Quinlan, and her great granddaughter Sydni DeVine. She is survived by her husband Rev. Garrett A. Hays Jr. (retired Major, US Army); two daughters, Delane Hays DeVine and husband Steven of Winston Salem NC, Dee Anna Hays of Bennett NC; two sons, Garrett (Garre) A. Hays III and wife Teresa of Supply NC, Gregory Allen Hays of Fayetteville NC; seven grandchildren, Mark (Toni), Bryan, DeLaura (Eric), Katie (Bobby), Garrett IV, Dakota and Seanna; five great grandchildren, Cory, Brooklyn, Karmen and Tanner; one great-great grandchild, Analeah. Officiating the memorial service will be Dr. Rudy Ramphal at Brunswick Islands Baptist Church, 1672 Mt. Pisgah Rd, Supply, NC 28462. The family requests with gratitude, any donations be made in her name to either Brunswick Islands Baptist Church or SECU Hospice House of Brunswick - Lower Cape Fear (955 Mercy Lane SE, Bolivia, NC 28422). Online condolences are encouraged and may be offered at www.whitefuneralservicesupply.com White Funeral & Cremation Service, Bolivia/Supply Chapel