Christine Hayden

We are and then we are not. Like the blowing out of a candle, or the closing of a door. We go to sleep, so that we may awaken in the morning... And, if we did not sleep, we could never know the joy of awaking. And if we did not die, we could never live eternally.’

A beautiful life came to a close on August 9, 2026, as God said to Sister Christine, “You are a precious rose that I plucked from my beautiful garden today. Come, come my dear child, I have come to give you rest. For you have fought a good fight, and you’ve finished the course, you have kept the faith.”

Sister Christine Hayden was born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Claude (Willie B. Roland) Crenshaw on March 4, 1933, in Caldwell County, Dale, Texas. In her early years she and her sister moved to Elgin, Texas to live with their aunt and uncle who was Moderator Robertson. There she attended and accomplished much. In High School she was a drum major and played basketball. In 1953, she graduated from Washington High School in Elgin, Texas. After graduating, she went on to cosmetology school and graduated from the Cresent School of Beauty in Austin, Texas. At Austin Community College, she also earned a certificate in Planning and practical training activities and Centers for Children in 1991. She worked as a beautician for Kenneth and Russ beauty salon for many years. She even had the opportunity to do hair for our former Governor Ann Richards.

In 1955, she met the love of her life on a blind date, Wilson Taft Hayden Jr. They clicked and it was the beginning of a love story. Shortly after meeting they married on December 8, 1955. To them four boys were born, they raised one daughter and two grandchildren. Carl, Glenn, Erwin, Nathan, Gloria, Erwin Jr. and Brittany. As her life began the Hayden home became the center of family functions. She loved to entertain, especially on Thanksgiving and Christmas. During those times you would find her in the kitchen preparing sweet potato pies, peach cobblers and other foods for all the family to enjoy. Beware of the Turkey leg because that was protected for her brother only, Rev. Crenshaw. It was said while he was on the telephone she prepared, cooked, ate and cleaned all in one conversation. Let us remind you that there were no speaker phones during that time. She was the family rolodex. If you needed to find someone or know something she had the information. Did we say she loved to talk and the phone? Part of her daily activities were watching “The Young and The Restless “and taking care of her grandchildren.

As life went on Christine changed careers. She became a teacher at Ebenezer Baptist Church pre-school. She taught several children whom she enjoyed but had to leave due to the illness of her husband and become his caretaker. Upon his departure life changed and she began to travel. Her son Carl made sure she traveled to every place she desired to visit including Hawaii, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Utah, California, along with two cruises.

Christine was reared in a Christian home and professed a hope in Christ at an early age. She was a member of Olivet Baptist Church and later moved to Pleasant Grove Baptist where she served for over 60 years. She believed in you being involved in church and not being just a “bench member”. Therefore, she was very active in many ministries which included the Choir, Deaconess President, Mission, Sunday school teacher and she hosted Musicals. For many years those musicals featured Robert Chambers, Bill the Mail Martin and the Thompson Singers. She was given an award for being dedicated and faithful to the service of Pleasant Grove in 2019 and given appreciation for her services in vacation bible school. She remained faith until her health no longer allowed her to attend church. Being the faithful member, she made sure that her tithes and offerings were still paid.

She was preceded in death by her husband Wilson Taft Hayden; Mother and Father Claude and Willie B. Crenshaw, Sister Ernestine C. Jackson, two brothers Herman Crenshaw, Willie B Crenshaw and two nephews.

She leaves to cherish the precious memory of her sweet spirit four sons, Carl (Cassandra) Hayden of Round Rock, Texas; Erwin (April) Hayden of Austin, Texas; Glenn Hayden of Austin, Texas; Nathan (Wanda) Hayden of Houston, Texas; Daughter/Neice Gloria (Kenneth) Evans of Hutto, Texas; Brother –Claude (Ann) Crenshaw, Jr. of Utah; grandchildren – Carl Hayden Jr, Branda Hayden, Erwin Hayden, Jr, Brittany Hayden, Brianna Lester, Kameron Evans, and Krystal Evans; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, Pleasant Grove Baptist and friends.

A visitation at Mt Sinai Baptist Church, 8500 Cameron Rd, Austin, Texas 78754, on August 26, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by a funeral service at the same location on August 26, 2026, at 11:00 am.

A committal service will take place at Cook Walden Memorial Hill Cemetery, 13700 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660, on August 26, 2026, at 2:00 pm.