Lillie Mae White Hayes

She was born on October 30, 1925 in Sardis, AL, the fifth and last child to the late Henry Thomas White and Alice Luckey Holley. Her husband E. Howard Hayes, brother Orden White and sisters Lillian Best, Mamie Beasley, and Gurthie Sexton have preceded her.

She is survived by her children: Kenneth Hayes of Millwood, GA; Spencer Hayes and wife Brenda of Columbia, AL; Roysce Hayes and wife Deborah of Ozark, AL; Shari Watson and husband Charlie of Tallahassee, FL; and Brent Hayes and wife Bonnie of Ozark, AL. Ms. Hayes had 19 grandchildren and 45 great grandchildren.

She attended grammar school first through sixth grade in Sardis, AL. She had a bout with pneumonia and her dad refused to let her stay in school for seventh grade. Her dad’s health declined and she then had to take over the farm work.

She was almost 14 when she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was teacher-leader and secretary of the home Sunday School. She also taught a neighborhood Primary. It was then that she gained a desire to marry in the temple. She met E. Howard Hayes in 1943 and they were married in the Mesa, Arizona Temple for time and all eternity on April 17, 1944.

She served in the Sunday School, as a Branch Clerk, in the Relief Society, and for many years in the Primary organization of the church. Her last calling was Ward Historian.

After WWII, Howard returned home. Lillie and Howard had a home built in Ozark, Alabama. In 1954, they moved to Climax, Georgia.

While living in Climax, Georgia, Lillie acted as the City Clerk, even though, the job was legally Howard’s.

In 1966, they returned to Ozark, Alabama, along with four of their five children, to the home that they had built. Their oldest son was serving a mission for their church France and Belgium. Lillie began working as a nurse’s aide to help support their son’s mission expense. That led to completing her G.E.D and later becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse. This was her career until retirement. Both she and her husband were avid genealogists, completing much research and publishing a history and several county cemeteries records in Alabama and Georgia.

Lillie loved gardening. She planted vegetables each year until she became unable to do so.

The viewing was held at Fuqa-Bankston Funeral Home, 508 Faust Ave. in Ozark, AL on September 19th, from 6-8 pm. The funeral service was held at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 637 Mixon School Road, Ozark, with a viewing from 10 a.m. Until 10:50 am. Pallbearers for the service were Paul Jones, Brad Ross, Joe Darley, Tim Phipps, Hayes Godwin, and John Meyers. Interment was at Woodland Cemetery in Ozark.

Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home in Ozark (334) 774-4551 is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be offered at www.fuquabankston.com.