Willie Bell Hayes

Willie Bell was born to Elijah J. and Hannah Jane Finley on June 28, 1925 in the little country town of Vossburg, Mississippi. Though raised on a farm, in the deep south and under less than ideal conditions, Willie Bell became the first of her family, and only one amongst her 6 siblings, to graduate from high school. After graduating from Shirley Owens High School, her parents could not afford the cost of sending her 35 miles away, to Meridian, to further her education. Although she worked briefly as a "dry goods clerk" and occasionally did "day work", she was not employed outside the home for a long length of time. She listed her occupation as housewife, but from her family she learned to cook, sew and "do hair". The current upswept styles and braids akimbo were her specialty along with French twist, pompadours, pageboys, and corkscrews - all known by different names at the time. All done in the kitchen. At this she was very good and it would later feed her family.

In 1946, Willie Bell met and married Alfred Hayes. They were married for 71 years until his transition to glory in September 2017. To this union was born 11 children.

Mother was filled with the Holy Ghost on June 15, 1947 in Shubuta, Mississippi, and from that day her missionary career began. At one point, she and her family were forced to leave their church and worship in the home of her parents because they were so zealous for the Lord. Being forced out of the conventional church building proved to be the catalyst through which great blessings would flow throughout the entire area of Clark County Mississippi. From the church in her home, to the revivals she conducted in "the north", Missionary Hayes soon became known and was much in demand as a gospel singer, a missionary and a pianist. She played for the ecumenical great gospel "Tractor Meetings", multi-denominational revivals, house to house prayer meetings, Usher Board meetings and her local services at the Grand Ole Church of God in Christ in DeSoto, Mississippi, where she was a member until she moved "North".

Willie Bell was so happy about being a Christian she became known for her smile, infectious laugh, and her constant and consistent faith. She was given and is yet known to many by the names of "Sis. Satisfied", "Happy" and "Tot". She opened her home to saints and sinners as they came through the community. Mother ministered to the motherless, the drunks, addicts and the sick. It was an integral part of her ministry to "fix up" other mothers, so that they looked good even if they could not pay the meager amount for her sewing or hair care services.

In 1964, after having been to the city several times for revivals and the prophecy of a new church, Missionary Hayes loaded her six girls and all the belongings they could pack in one car with a driver and herself and moved to Indianapolis, IN. Her incredible faith in God lead her to leave behind twenty acres of land, a large family house full of furniture, and a well-established circle of friends. After arriving in Indianapolis, Missionary Hayes and her children became charter members of Freedom Temple Church of God in Christ with Pastor Orville "Joe" Hamilton. She served her church well as the first Bible Band President, the first Pastor's Aide President, instituting pounds, making suits and robes, and purchasing the pastor's first tailored suit from Leon Tailoring. Mother Hayes was the first musician of the church, first hospitality president and organizer of all bands and services.

Sewing was what she loved. As the first sewing circle president, many younger women learned to sew at her hands. She taught them to make everything from children's clothes to suits, to linens, to quilts and curtains. At 83 years old, she was still teaching women to sew. She pioneered the "Mission skirt". A simple skirt from one yard or less of fabric. Hundreds have been made and sent to clothe the less fortunate in developing countries.

Known simply as Mother Hayes, she has served in her denomination as District Missionary, District Hospitality, and five years as State Missions Elect Lady of Indiana Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. Upon her death, Mother Hayes was serving as the Chairman of the Mother's Board at Freedom Temple Church of God in Christ. She served our Lord and community as a member for over 55 years.

Though a spiritual giant, she lists as her greatest accomplishment the rearing of her children in a faith-filled, godly environment. She termed it "raising them in the fear and admonition of God". All of her daughters are professing Christians. From her seed comes three ministers' wives (one a double Jurisdictional Supervisor), musicians, singers, preachers, Evangelist Missionaries, Home and Foreign missionaries, barbers, beauticians, a nurse, cooks extraordinaire, contractors, carpenters, teachers and other talents. She served her local church in a manner that few can claim. She was the birth mother to all of the Pastors' Wives.

We celebrate Mother for being a source of encouragement to many outside of her family. She said her spiritual gift was "helps". For years, each first Sunday night, she could be found making her rounds at the Marion County Jail. She was a regular at the Plainfield Boys School, where she was known as "grandma" to the boys, serving hot home cooked food and offering to them the Word of God. For years, she was active on the Evangelism team, visiting prisons, hospitals and nursing homes. She had a thriving ministry for a time Pendleton Minimum Security Facility, Indiana State Women's Prison, Central State Hospital and numerous other venues. Even entering her nineties, she was still joyfully traveling with the mission team into the nursing homes on Saturday evenings. At 94 years old, she was still a regular on the fourth Sunday of every month, visiting young and old men at the Duvall Men's Work Release Center. Her presence was encouragement to many. Most of her finances have been spent to make others happy. Even her hobbies have been incorporated into ministry. With her talent and love of sewing, she literally clothed the naked. Mother made and gave away hundreds, if not thousands, of homemade, one-of-a-kind quilts and said be warm and fed. Her melt in your mouth biscuits and teacakes were a great source of comfort to her family and many a stranger. Her old-fashioned chicken and dumplings were unforgettable. She went fishing with the bereaved, the lame and the infirm to help them regain their lives. Many preachers have been prayed for, anointed, encouraged from her hand and through her life. Mother Hayes' works certainly speak for her.

Willie Bell, Mother Dear, Mama, MaDeo, MA Maw, Grandma, or Aunt Tot was the family glue. She knew the history of family and passed it on. Hayes, Smith, Finley, or House, for all generations her love and devotion was constant. Family reunions were special times. Being with family was important to her. When she could no longer travel to them, she kept in touch via her "telephone ministry". As her eyesight diminished her writing got larger but she kept the tablet with numbers for family members near and far. She maintained the same phone number 317 547-4959 for more than 50 years, so relatives and friends would still be able to contact her. As she sat in her special chair, her phone was never far from her, so she continued to communicate until just a few days before she passed. She answered calls after midnight like it was afternoon. In-laws were not just in-laws, they were respected and loved. She was Aunt Tot and the revered and most beloved for her nieces and nephews. In her and through her was the love of Christ personified. Her strong faith and consistent Christ-like character was a positive influence on many. She always had hugs, smiles, and prayers going up for them. It is through her that some came to Christ. Yes, Mother Hayes was a great encourager. She made everyone feel as if they were her "favorite." According to our father, her grandsons were untouchable in her eyes. She had a special love for each of them. She loved the girls too, but oh those boys!

Willie Bell was a devoted child of God. She carried on noon day prayer in the homes of saints for years. She, along with her sister Grace Anderson, were greatly responsible for Freedom Temple's first structured church building. With the selling of barbecue every Saturday and some weekdays, together they raised enough for the foundation while disposing of the old building by daily burning bits of it in barrels. Working by day and praying by night as the song goes. A strong pillar in her community she lived in the same neighborhood for over 55 years. Loving the children and their parents. Many grew up calling her MA Dear and she was not a blood relative. She just loved them.

Mother Hayes also loved a lively church service. Strike up a note and she was ready to "dance". As late as her last service on March 22, 2020 she was still playing a set of Zildjian cymbals. Her testimony was always upbeat and faith-filled. Her favorite song was "I am going to serve the Lord". And she did.

On Tuesday, April 7, 2020 she heard a voice saying "well done". She closed her eyes and slept into eternity. Willie Bell is preceded in death by her husband Alford Hayes; five children: Eugene, Elijah, Velva, Alfreda and Juanita; two sons-in-law, Pastor Orville Hamilton and Minister Mose Bolden; her parents, and all of her siblings. The light of Mother Willie Bell Hayes' faith will never be extinguished. She lives on in the hearts of her five daughters. Left to honor her life, to be her voice: Mary Alice Bolden, Gary Lee (Robert) Thomas, Evangelist Myrtis Verlinda Hayes, Supervisor Emma Rose (Pastor Charles) Sanders, Lady Marel Letitia (Pastor Louis) Norris; To continue her legacy, her 16 grand-children: Manuel, Sandford, Velva, Charlitha, Endia, Demetrius, Ebony, Charleston, DeMarcus, DeJuan, Charlotte, Jason, LaFrietta, LuMyrum, Saschenara, and Akeaylah; a host of great and great-great children, To cherish her memory a special niece Linda "Cookie" and special nephews, Bobby Finley, and Samuel Hayes; all of her relatives, church family, spiritual children and a host of friends. There are some who bring a light so bright to the world, that even after they have gone the light remains. Yes, it was ninety-four years, nine months, nine days, but she finished her course.