John Wilkins Haley

John Wilkins Haley passed away peacefully in the company of family and friends just after midnight on January 24th. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, artistic talent, humility, and compassion in action. He was 59.

John was born May 2, 1966, in Memphis. In his early years he lived in Hermosa Beach, CA, where his brother, Jason, was born (and where weekend trips in a VW minivan were the norm). The family then relocated to New Hampshire, where they resided in a herdsman’s trailer on a dairy farm while waiting for suitable housing. When John was almost six, his family returned to Memphis to care for an elderly grandparent. These early influences instilled in John the courage to launch out into the world in service to others.

After graduating from White Station High School, John attended Memphis College of Art and graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in photography. Returning to Memphis after college, he was a photographer for The Memphis Flyer and for Memphis Magazine. He was also the photographer for Project Motion dance collective; this work ignited a passion for unexpected dramatic shots, often intentionally out of focus. John continued his interest in out-of-focus work with a series of flower close ups taken with a simple Diana camera, his favorite work.

As photographer with the International Children’s Heart Foundation, John traveled to war zones such as Sarajevo, Palestine, Croatia, Uzbekistan, Serbia, China, Venezuela, Peru and Bosnia, documenting both the critical surgeries and the living conditions of the young patients and their families. John was struck by the irony in his situation: While working to aid the disadvantaged in other countries, he was bombed and tear gassed by his own Country.

While living in a FEMA trailer after Katrina, John worked on community reconstruction in St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans. Here John recognized the wisdom of reusing scrapped materials for property restoration. He would continue this practice when he returned to Memphis. by rehabbing homes in the Binghamton community of Memphis, creating affordable housing while preserving the design and character.

In 2005 John moved to Ireland, where he earned a master’s degree in Peace and Development Studies at the University of Limerick. The curriculum involved working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), while at Limerick one of his projects was election monitoring in Jerusalem during the 2006 legislative elections. John’s work with NGOs led him to Uganda where he met his future wife, Grace.

For five years, John volunteered with the Butakoola Village Association (BUVAD) in Uganda’s Kayunga District, working to secure reliable access to clean drinking water for a community long affected by illnesses caused by contamination. During that time, he identified a German entrepreneur who had developed an innovative building method using recycled plastic bottles and mud. John persuaded him to demonstrate the technique locally, leading to the construction of a school bathroom and a well that supplied safe, sanitary water to the community. Word of this success spread across Uganda and beyond, inspiring other communities throughout Africa.

When Grace and John met, he won her heart on their first date by sharing his croissant, a gesture that captured the humility and generosity that defined him. His Fascination with other cultures and genuine interest in people enabled him to connect easily wherever he went.

In 2013, he returned to Memphis and was joined by Grace in the summer of 2014 and would later marry and settle into the Binghampton community. There John concentrated on rehabbing affordable housing using salvaged materials enhanced with bold color, while preserving the design and character. During this time, with John’s support, Grace opened Mbabazi, her boutique on Broad Avenue, offering original African designs.

At the time of his death, John and Grace were building Green Dream Farm, an eco-retreat in Hoima, Uganda, named after the New Hampshire farm, where John lived as a child.

John is mourned by a global community of friends and colleagues, and a large and loving family. His influence lives on in each life he touched. One example: In his close relationships with his nephews, Ethan, Nate, and Cullen, John fostered a love of adventure, travel, and excellent food. Their lively, years-long text thread sharing images of the places they visited and the food they ate stands as testament to both their connection and the curiosity John sparked in those he loved.

Some of the countries John visited included Holland, Germany, Spain, Mexico, South Sudan, Colombia, England and so many more.

John is survived by his wife, Grace Haley; his mother, Patricia Haley (John Cooper); his father, Stephen Haley (Diana Bell), all of Memphis; his step-daughter, Sheila Karungi of Kampala, Uganda; his brother, Jason Haley (Molly)of Chester, VT; his step-sister, Carole Cooper Moore (Andrew Moore) and their sons Cooper and Forrest of Asheville, NC; his mother-in-law, Loy Rujumba of Hoima, Uganda; his aunt, Anne Porterfield (Wink) of Hartwell, GA; his cousins, Lisa Bailey Evans (Jeff) of Brunswick, ME, Becky Van Wagoner (Christopher) of Tacoma Park, MD, and Lucas Wonert (Erica) of Trussville AL; his nephews, Cullen Haley (Maria Berrios), Ethan Haley, Nathaniel Haley, and Joel Hochman; and his niece, Sarah Hochman; as well as a global community of friends and colleagues.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Memphis Funeral Home, located at 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, on February 28, 2026, from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM.