JAMES L. HAYES

Master Sergeant (Ret.) James Louis Hayes Mr. James Louis Hayes was born on April 17, 1920 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. He was the oldest of four children born to Estella Coleman Hayes Howard and William McKinley Hayes. Mr. Hayes went to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 7, 2010.

Mr. Hayes graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1938.

He was inducted into the United States Army in 1942 and retired in 1965. During the span of his military career, he was stationed in the Washington D.C. area and served in two wars.

In 1943, Mr. Hayes married Juanita Woods and from that union, there were two daughters, Brenda Louise and Audrey Rita. In 1973, he was joined in marriage to Elaine Ford of Washington D.C. Elaine preceded him in death in 2000, after which he returned to Indiana to be near his family.

He rededicated his life to Christ in 2002 and joined Light of the World Christian Church under the leadership of Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin, Jr.

Mr. Hayes leaves to cherish his memory his two daughters, Brenda (Anthony) Burke and Audrey (Austin) Wathen; grandchildren, Erika (John) Marks, Monica (Carl) Goodwin, and Aaron Smith; greatgrandchildren, Tylar McNulty, Don McCraig, Caitlin Goodwin, Caleb Goodwin and Maya Marks; sisters, Novella Flint and Ruth Sanders; nieces and nephews, Sheila (Melvin) Holmes, Carolyn (Jeff) Gaddis, Robert (Kim) Sanders, Joyce Sanders, Dr. Eileen Hayes, Betty Hall, Louise Wilson, Terry McDaniels, Dienese Gilbert, Lee Adele Hart, Jasmine Hart, Amelia Gilbert, Martin Wilson, Evan Johnson, Nicholas Logan, Christopher Hart, Jr., and Astin Hart, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mr. Hayes was also preceded in death by his parents; brother, Rev. William McKinley Hayes; niece, Linda Watkins; and brothers-in-law, Floyd Flint and James "Chip" Sanders.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 13 at Light of the World Christian Church with visitation there from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Master Sergeant (Ret.) James L. Hayes will be buried with Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Arrangements entrusted to Lavenia, Smith and Summers Home for Funerals.

Published by The Indianapolis Star on Feb. 12, 2010.

01/27/2023 EJS