Garrett Alfred Hays Jr.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Reverend Retired Major Garrett Alfred Hays Jr. will be held on Saturday, February 25th at 2:00 pm at Brunswick Islands Baptist Church in Supply, North Carolina. Reverend Hays was born on August 8, 1935 in Clarkdale, Georgia and went to be with his Lord on Thursday, February 16, 2023. Family was at his bedside at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston Salem, NC. He was 87 years old. He will be greatly and deeply missed.

Garrett grew up in southern Georgia where he went to Thomasville High School. He proudly played football and was co-captain for the “Bulldogs.” He married the love of his life, Laura Sue Strickland, after high school. This love affair lasted for 65 years on this earth and spread across multiple continents, countries, and military conflicts. Their love affair has now continued on to their heavenly home.

During Major Hays’ military career in the United States Army, he was a paratrooper, an infantryman, part of a tank unit, an officer, a leader, and an advisor to the Vietnamese Army. For his bravery and leadership during the Vietnam War, Major Hays was awarded two (2) Bronze Star Medals with Valor for combat actions and bravery. Additionally, he was awarded the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star by the country of Vietnam for his service and bravery to their country and its people. He retired from the military after 20+ years of service.

Nearing the end of Major Hays’ military career, he felt the call to serve the Lord as a pastor. He was licensed to preach at Trinity Baptist Church in Fayetteville, NC in 1974 and was ordained in 1975. He graduated from Campbell University with his BA in 1978. Reverend Hays went on to obtain his Masters of Divinity Degree in 1981 from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. Later, Reverend Hays served as a member on the Board of Ministers at Campbell University.

Rev. Hays served in three full time pastorate positions. The first one was at Parkersburg Baptist Church of Garland, NC; then Bunn Baptist Church of Bunn, NC; and finally Dortches Baptist Church of Rocky Mount, NC. He retired from Dortches Baptist Church but not from his service to the Lord. After retirement, he served in multiple short and long term interim pastoral positions in both North Carolina and Florida including Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church of Supply, NC; Oak Island Baptist Church of Oak Island, NC; and Hickory Grove Baptist Church of Green Cove Springs, FL. He provided pulpit supply to many churches throughout NC, Georgia and Florida during his retirement years. He also served as a hospital chaplain at Nash General Hospital in Rocky Mount NC.

Reverend Hays and Laura Sue together served with the International Baptist Missions and filled positions or preached at churches in Denmark, Germany and Spain. They enjoyed meeting people from different cultures with different languages/customs and loved how God works among all of His people.

Over the many years, Reverend Hays had the honor and privilege to perform the weddings of all his married children and all his married grandchildren.

Reverend Hays not only loved people, but loved serving people. One of his deepest callings was to meet folks where they were and pray for/with them. He greatly desired to be an instrument of God in his daily walk showing God’s grace, mercy and love to others. It didn’t matter your age, your circumstances, your station in life or any other factors. He just wanted you to see God’s great love for you as His child right where you were and just as you were.

Garrett was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Laura Sue Strickland Hays; his parents, Garrett and Elizabeth Hays Sr.; his brother, Glen Hays; and his great granddaughter, Sydni DeVine.

He is survived by his children: two daughters - Delane Hays DeVine and husband Steven of Winston Salem, NC and Dee Anna Hays of Bennett, NC; two sons - Garrett (Garre) A. Hays III and wife Teresa of Supply, NC and Gregory A. Hays of Fayetteville, NC; his seven grandchildren - Mark (Toni), Bryan, DeLaura (Eric), Katie (Robert), Garrett IV, Dakota, and Seanna; his five great grandchildren - Cory, Brooklyn (Ross), Karmen, Tanner, and Maddison; his three great-great grandchildren - Alyana, Analeah, and Alina; his brother - Edwin Hays and wife Marilyn of Jackson, TN; close family friends - Tim and Debbie Kennedy, Blake Mayo, Ken and Jamie Scott.

Officiating the memorial services will be Reverend Keith McKinney at Brunswick Island Baptist Church, 1672 Mt. Pisgah Road, Supply, NC 28462. Family visitation will occur immediately after the service.

The family requests with great gratitude, any donations be made in Garrett Alfred Hays Jr.’s name/honor to one of the following:

- Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston Salem, NC 27103 (either general or specifically for the Veterans’ honoring program), www.trellissupport.org

- Brunswick Islands Baptist Church, 1672 Mt. Pisgah Rd SW, Supply, NC 28462

- Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 120 S. Wingate St., Wake Forest, NC 27587 (specifically the School of Divinity) www.sebts.edu

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitefuneralservicesupply.com for the Hays Jr. family.