Hillard Haynes

Hillard Haynes, Chief Warrant Officer Four, United States Army, Retired and Government Service Civilian, GS-15, 80, currently of Simpsonville, South Carolina, departed this earthly bond on 20 June 2023 at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Greenville, South Carolina.

The Honors Inurnment Ceremony will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA on 14 November 2024 at 9:00 am. Arrangements for video coverage will be provided later.

Hillard was born in St. Louis, MO to Annie Burnett Haynes on 26 December 1942. He spent his formative years in East St. Louis, IL. He attended Hughes Quinn Elementary and received is high school diploma from Lincoln High School in E. St. Louis in 1959. He and his wife Betty (nee Hookfin) had been blessed with 43 years of marriage, recently celebrating their anniversary.

Hillard was a veteran of the Vietnam war serving in both Vietnam (1966-1967) and Thailand with the United States Army receiving the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, Vietnam Service Medal (2 awards) and Overseas Service Bar (3 awards) ribbon. His other recognitions include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Overseas Service Ribbons (5 awards).

In 1985, CW4 Haynes was selected to be the Quartermaster Warrant Officer Career Manager/Assignments Officer at the Total Army Personnel Management Command, Alexandria, Virginia. In this position of distinction, he directly impacted the career development for all active duty US Army Quartermaster Warrant Officers serving in four distinct logistics specialties (Property Accounting, Supply Systems, Food Service, Parachute Rigger). During his era, the Career Manager/Assignments Officer at the Army’s Personnel Command was viewed as the pinnacle assignment for a Warrant Officer. Additionally, the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Five had not yet been approved. So, in September 1988, after reaching the pinnacle of his rank and serving in the top most position, CW4 Haynes culminated his distinguished 27-year career.

Following his retirement from active military service, CW4 continued to serve his country as a Department of Defense Civilian working in various positions in Counter-Narcotics Support, Pentagon Renovation Operations, and in the DCSLOG Supply Support Branch. In 1999, he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair. During the unprecedented attacks on September 11, 2001, CW4 Haynes was working at the recently renovated segment of the Pentagon. In 2002 he moved to the Army Materiel Command to work Foreign Military Sales and as a Logistics Management Program Coordinator until his retirement from Federal Service in 2004 culminating more than 43-years of service to the Nation.

In 2016, CW4 Haynes was honored to be inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Quartermaster Corps during the Honors Ceremony at Fort Lee (Gregg-Adams), Virginia.

Hillard was also involved in the League of Women Voters of Florida and Greenville SC, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

Hillard is proceeded in death by his Mother, Annie Burnett Haynes Adams and his mentor and role model, his Beloved Grandfather, Jessie Lee Haynes.

He leaves to mourn his passing, but honor his memory, his beloved wife of 43 years, LTC Betty J. Haynes, US Army, retired. Retired (1999), a career Ordnance Corps Officer, his son, Da-Wyone (Dawn), daughter Barbara Haynes Abraham (Isaiah, Sr.), Son-of-his-Heart, Samuel C. Hookfin (LaVern), Grandchildren - Isaiah II (Lillian), Dejah, Destinee, Devon, Dominic, and Chris; and his latest “Loves” – Keegan and Axel, and his ‘Brother’-In-Law, Curtis Odom (Nelia) and niece, Alyssa.

Hillard is also blessed to have still on this earth his Great Aunts – Ella Haynes Lumpkin and Volo Haynes Randle of California and Great Uncle Calvin Haynes of Alabama. Plus, his many Cousins whom he considered ‘brothers and sisters’, his God children, and many Friends.

The family of Hillard Haynes wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Xuezhong Yang, Dr. Sharif S. Khan and all the wonderful Nurses, our Nurse Navigators, and staff of the St. Francis Cancer Center and 5th Floor of St. Francis Hospital Downtown. His Primary Care Physician, Dr. Justin Holladay and his staff at PRISMA, the ER and ICU Nurses and staff of PRISMA Greenville Memorial Hospital, the Physical Therapists and Occupation Therapists of PRISMA Home Health, and his VA Primary Care Physician, Dr. Rajiv Joglekar and his staff at the Anderson VA Clinic.