Wesley E. Hayes Jr.

Deacon Wesley E Hayes, Jr. was born to the parents of Rev. and Mrs. Wesley E. Hayes, Sr. on November 7, 1936, in Brinkley, Arkansas. He is the eldest of five children. His elementary and junior high years were spent at the Brinkley Academy, where his father was principal. At Marian Anderson High School, his grandfather was principal. When his family relocated to Little Rock, Arkansas, Wesley attended the Gibbs School and later graduated from Dunbar High School in 1955.

At an early age, Wesley joined and worked in the church where he was active in Sunday School, Baptist Training Union, junior choir, and the ushers.

After graduation from high school, Wesley entered Tuskegee University, where he was a dorm counselor, a member of the ROTC, and an intern in the electrical engineering program. Upon graduation from Tuskegee, he returned to Little Rock and taught in public school. Later, he became director of facilities at Philander Smith College.

Wesley’s Christmas gift was to marry Virginia McLish following morning worship in 1963, and they have been married for 58 years. Virginia then joined Wesley in Hawkins, Texas, where he served as director of the physical plant. Later, the couple moved to Dallas, Texas, where he became director of physical plant at Bishop College. Following his tenure at Bishop College, Wesley served as director of facilities at Richland College where he retired in 2005 and returned for an additional five years to complete a special project related to the facilities at Richland.

Active in the community and at the Good Street Baptist Church, Wesley served as a deacon and trustee at Good Street, board chair of the Moorland Branch YMCA, a charter member of Rotary East Richardson, and an avid bowler for numerous years. In addition, he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

To cherish his memory, Wesley leaves to mourn: his wife of 58 years, Virginia M. Hayes; a son, Rodney (Leah) Hayes, Sr.; a daughter, Dr. Shirley Wright; two sisters, Bernetta (John) Hayes Powell and Grace Blagdon; a brother, Paul (Teresa) Hayes; five grandchildren, Andrea Singleton, Lauren Hayes, Wesley Hayes, Avril Hayes, and Rodney Hayes, Jr.; two great grandchildren, Augusta “AJ” Singleton and Derick “DJ” Williams; an aunt, Vernia Hayes; cousins, friends, and family.