Lorenzo "Benny" Hayes

Lorenzo “Benny” Hayes was born on September 19, 1929 to Cassie Belle Brownlee and Benjamin Lee Hayes, in Birmingham, Alabama. Although his given name was Benjamin Lee Hayes, like his father and grandfather before him, Lorenzo decided that Benny Lee was a girl's name and changed it, rumor has it, in grade school. The four Hayes children, Yvonne Anyta, Clifford Leonard, Lorenzo (Benny Lee), and Fannie Mae, grew up in a house on a large plot of family-owned land passed down shortly after 1865. Matriculating through Irondale Junior High school then Selma University- High School Department, Lorenzo was a straight ‘A’ student and excelled in all subjects as well as in the oratory arts. He performed Shakespearean plays, recited famous monologues at school and scriptures at church. Later in life, on special occasions, he’d also perform a little poem, about a chickadee, much to his grandchildren's delight!

In 1947 Lorenzo started Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama. This is where he met his to-be wife, Ruth Cooley. According to Lorenzo, while “greeting” freshman girls on campus, a buddy dared him to walk over to Ruth and say hello. He must have done something right because the two would be married a few years later on May 11, 1951. Lorenzo then joined the United States Marine Corps and served his country during the Korean War as a chemist. After an honorable discharge, with the rank of Sergeant and earning the National Defense Service Medal, Lorenzo and Ruth moved to Washington, D.C. to start their lives together. They welcomed daughter Vida Lorenzo in March 1955 and Carl Eric in January 1959. Their home on Queens Chapel Terrace would be the backdrop of 50 years’ worth of precious memories.

Ruth and Lorenzo loved to travel and would return to Birmingham often to see family and friends. Lorenzo’s nieces and nephews loved “Uncle Benny”. And he loved them. They also enjoyed vacationing in the Caribbean and Lorenzo would display hats from those travels along the basement wall, much to Ruth’s chagrin.

With positions throughout the federal government, Lorenzo maintained the same work ethic: “Be the first one in and the last one out!” For this, his intellect and his jolly spirit, he was admired and loved by his co-workers, staying in contact with several for decades after retirement. He didn’t like attention and rumor has it that when he retired, he left for the day, just like any other day.

After retirement, Lorenzo loved to tinker around the house, perfect his lawn, and take care of his cars. Lorenzo also loved to fall asleep at the kitchen table with his hands folded in his lap. A grandchild would wander by and say, “Papa?” He’d raise his head, “Hmm?”, smile and say, “I was just resting my eyes.”

Lorenzo’s and Ruth’s grandchildren, Christyn, Carla, Aaron and Bryan, loved their Papa immensely. Memories of mints and complements, hidden diapers, selling candy at school, sneaky Snickers, crazy exercises in the basement, and shouting “Who Let the Dogs out?!” will warm their hearts forever.

From a young age, friends and family would say, “Ask Benny; he knows!” and he would- even when he didn't. Lorenzo loved to tell stories. The same stories over and over. And over again. In the coming days we’ll recall one or two and laugh.

There are too many memories and not enough words to express what Lorenzo meant to each of us. His impact is immutable. The love he showed and the legacy he leaves is impossible to capture here. So, we hold him in our hearts. And tell his stories. Over and over again, each time embellished little differently, just like he would.

Lorenzo was predeceased by his parents Cassie Belle Brownlee-Hayes and Benjamin Lee Hayes, sister Yvonne Anyta Raven and brother Clifford Leonard Hayes. Lorenzo is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years Ruth Cooley Hayes, sister Fannie Mae Hayes-Yow, daughter Vida Hayes Jackson, son Carl Eric Hayes, son-in-law Charles Patton Jackson, daughter-in-law Erica Grant, nieces Byanca Anyta Paul, Veneesa Oliva Yow, Zsa Zsa Yow-Young, nephew Lestryet Yow and William Hayes; grandchildren Christyn Jackson-Bernard, Carla Hayes, Aaron Jackson and Bryan Grant and great-grandchildren Quinn and Zachary Bernard and Reagan Grant along with a host of other relatives and friends. He was proud of his family and loved each one of us deeply. We will miss him dearly.

Graveside services will be held at 11am on September 14, 2020 at George Washington Cemetery in Adelphi, Maryland.