Velma D. Anderson Hayden

The Rev. Hayden died Jan. 7, 2011, in a local hospital. She was born March 18, 1924, in Itasca.

The Rev. Hayden was a longtime resident of Killeen, having arrived in 1960, and was actively involved in the community. She was a longtime volunteer for the Red Cross and earlier the Gray Ladies during the 1950s and 1960s. More recently she was a volunteer in the school district's reading program. She was a committed college volunteer recruiter for many years and would actually take students to college and get them enrolled.

As a spiritual leader in the community, she also assisted in providing ministry to families as a eulogist if needed and provided service and ministry to the community. Working with the youth was a part of her mission, and she impacted their lives in positive ways.

She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Frederick Hayden, and her parents, the Rev. Arthur Anderson and Mary Willis Anderson.

Survivors include her daughter, Vandetta Ingersoll of Killeen; three sisters, Mary Dillon of Killeen, Arthur Lee Harris of San Antonio, Bertie Dabney of Chicago, Ill.; a brother, Amos (Shirley) Anderson of Oklahoma City, Okla.; three grandchildren, Michelle Moore and Leon F. Ingersoll, both of Killeen, and Terri (John) Hise of Copperas Cove; four grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Anderson Chapel A.M.E. Church. Services have been entrusted to the care of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen.