Sina Gertrude Joyner Hayes

Sina was born on June 27, 1903 in Iredell County and was recognized on her birthday in 2015 as the oldest person in North Carolina and the 6th oldest in the United States at 112. She was the daughter of the late James Robert and Betty Wooten Joyner. She and her husband, Raleigh K. Hayes, celebrated 70 years together before his passing in 1993. She is survived by one sister, Doris J. Lord (95) of Springfield, MA. She was preceded in death by two sisters (Ora Joyner & Pauline Ellison) and six brothers (Price, Grady, Max, D.T., Parks and Jim).

She and Raleigh had three sons--Harold (died 8/15), Carlyle (Ft. Worth, TX) and Joe (died 11/86). She had eight grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and sixteen great great grandchildren.

Raleigh retired in 1966 as the Superintendent of Construction for Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Sina worked at Hanes Knitting Mill for many years making infant sleepers. After retiring in 1966 they enjoyed traveling across the United States and a few countries in Europe. She lived out the Biblical teaching found in Proverbs 31 , being a "wife of noble character whose children arise and call her blessed". She was a member of Northwest Baptist Church (formerly North Winston Baptist Church) for over 75 years where she was active in Sunday School and the Women's Missionary Union.

Her hobbies included cooking, sewing, gardening and especially quilting (a quilt of hers won first place at the fair one year). All of her children and grandchildren have one of her quilts.

A Graveside Service will be held at Forsyth Memorial Park on Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 2pm. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 26, 2016 from 2pm to 4pm at Brookridge Retirement Home.

Memorials may be made to the Brookridge Retirement Homes.