Friday, September 13, 2013 1:00 P.M. Evans County Community Center 720 Church Street Claxton, Georgia Minister Vivian Byrd, Presiding/Interim Pastor Rev. Dr. C. L. Anderson, Officiating interment: Charlton Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Scttmiie t93t Seuuei Sefiteutien E, 2013 Prelude (Meditation) .Soft Music Processional and Viewing............................Clergy & Family Presiding........................................Minister Vivian Byrd Hymn. ...Father I Stretch My Hands to Thee Lined and led by Rev. Freddie Hodge, Moderator of District 3, Claxton District Prayer of Consolation..........................Rev. Martin Bacon Old Testament.............................Rev. Michael P. Dickerson New Testament.............................Rev. Victor Brewton, Sr. Selection.........................................Combined Choir Expressions Former Pastor of Hagan Chapel...............Rev. Craig R. Tremble Missionary Baptist Church Chairman of the Deacons Ministry, Hagan Chapel.Dea. Ronald Mikel As a Classmate.................................Sister Nita B. Baker As a Friend....................................Sister Earlean Bailey As a Neighbor...............................Sister Ollie Mae Ricks Solo. Brother David Sharpe Associational Condolences.......................Rev. Sinclair Thorne Moderator of the Tattnall Missionary Baptist Association, Inc. Sister Christine Bailey President of the Womens Auxiliary, Tattnall Missionary Baptist Association, Inc. Resolutions...............Tattnall Missionary Baptist Association Hagan Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Sweet Evening Breeze, No. 269, Order of the Eastern Star Acknowledgements........................Sister Louise Wilkerson Obituary................................Sister Diane W. Holland Selection.......................Led by Eulogist, Rev. Dr. C. L. Anderson EulogyWI\^:X.Tlfc(?!)i^.CC>.<^5..................Rev. Dr. C. L. Anderson Former Pastor of Hagan Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Moderator Emeritus,Tattnall Missionary Baptist Association, Inc. Mrs. Lillie Belle Hayes entered into eternal rest early Sunday morning, September 8, 2013. She was born to the late Foster Johnson and Annie Williams Johnson on August 18,1931 in Claxton, Georgia. On August 4,1968, she was united in Holy Matrimony to Thomas Hayes, who preceded her in death. To this union, no children were born. Though Mrs. Hayes had no biologi- cal children, many young people were nurtured and inspired by her and have ventured into various walks of life. To quote Mrs. Hayes, she would state, I have children all over the world. She attended the' public schools of Evans County and graduated from Evans County Training School in 1947, graduat- ing as valedictorian of her class. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in English Education in 1951 from Savannah State College, and while at Savannah State, she was initiated as a member into Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She did further study at New York University, Tuskegee Institute, and Georgia Southern College. She was an educator in the Evans County Public School System for 36 years. Prior to teaching at Claxton High School, Mrs. Hayes was a teacher at Evans County High School, the home of the mighty, mighty Longhorns. She left a legacy in light of having served as Senior Class Sponsor for a number of ECHS senior classes; she was known then as Miss Lillie Belle Johnson. She was one of the founding members of ELITE, an organization formed to improve the job performance of the ECHS educators. Mrs. Hayes was a very vibrant and charismatic person who loved her Master, family, church, friends, and community. When asked about her years of service in the many roles she assumed in her church and as an educator, she would readily quote Ecclesiastes 11:3, Cast thy bread upon the water: for thou Shalt find it after many days. In the Christian community, Mrs. Hayes was a devoted and dutiful member of the Hagan Chapel Missionary Baptist Church for more than 67 years. con^. She served as church secretary for over 40 years. She was president of the Deaconess Ministry, served as Sunday School teacher for a number of years, sang in the church choir, and was adamant about the the role of the Mission Ministry being a means of outreach to the community, thus fulfilling the mis- sion of Jesus and Matthew 5:16. She was the second oldest member of her church, helped to establish a scholarship in mem- ory of her husband. Deacon Thomas Hayes, and loved Holy Communion. Mrs. Hayes was very active in the Tattnall Missionary Baptist Association, serving as a faithful delegate to the association from Hagan Chapel. Mrs. Hayes was President of the Women Auxiliary for the Third District, the Claxton District. She served on the Tattnall Missionary Baptist Association Scholarship Committee. She was very active in civic organizations in the commu- nity. She was a charter member of Evans County Afro-American Society and the second president of the organization, serving in that capacity for 18 years. She was a member of Sweet Evening Breeze, Chapter No. 269, Order of Eastern Star and was a Past Matron of the chapter. She was a member of the local chapter of the NAACP, No. 5181. Mrs. Hayes helped to organize the Tri- County Chapter of the Savannah State University National Alumni Association, and she was a member of the Georgia Retired Educators Association. She was preceded in death by her parents, Foster and Annie Johnson; her husband, Thomas Hayes; a brother, Willie Belle Johnson; and her sister, Eloise Johnson. She leaves to cherish her memory a devoted cousin and caretaker, Pauline Golden, other cousins, relatives, friends, her church family, and a host of former students and co-workers. \ expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. -William Penn t The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; He maketh me to lie down In green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters, he restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me; Thou preparest a table before me In the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. P s A L M 2 3 t Gary M. Holland Ryan Tomblin Gregory Stewart Anthony Byrd Marvin Welch Linnex Hines Deacons and Trustees of Hagan Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Ushers and Friends of Family The family of the late Sister Lillie Belle Johnson Hayes expresses sincere appreciation for every act of kindness shown during the illness and demise of their loved one. May Gods richest blessings be yours is our prayer. Repast Evans County Community Center Professional Services Entrusted to: Moodys Funeral Home 201 Church Street Claxton, Georgia (9121 739-4932 Owner Waymon Moody Manager Greg Stewart Designed and Printed by BCS Computers