Tributes

Neita Britton Hayes began her journey on May 23, 1933 in Avalon, (Ellis County) Texas. She was the child of Willie Faul Britton and Pauline Vinson. Happily, she was the first grandchild on both maternal and paternal sides of her family. She started school in Italy, Texas at Italy Colored (Stafford) School. She believed in education; completing her GED, receiving her Texas Barber License, and the Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA) Certificate. She encouraged all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to finish high school and to go to college. She was the founding member of the Neita B. Hayes Scholarship fund. For eleven years Mother Hayes taught toddlers at Tot’s Haven Christian Daycare in Fort Worth, Texas. Toddlers eighteen months and older learned their ABC’s by reciting Bible verses, and they learned to count by repetition. Mother Hayes often testified that she wanted Jesus in her heart at age eleven. She was encouraged to make a confession of faith by her Grandmother Ophelia Young. She often admonished parents to let their children see them do the right thing. Mother Hayes did no believe in: “Do as I say; not as I do.” She served as Director of Youth at Pleasant Mount Gilead Baptist Church, Sunday School and B.T.U. teacher at Community Missionary Baptist Church, and an integral part of the Prayer Team at Family Praise Center/Place for Life. When her children or grandchildren brought a new friend to the house, Mother Hayes always asked, “Now baby, do you love Jesus? “Depending on their answer, she would ask, “Have you made Him Lord of your life?” Upon hearing that Mother Hayes had transitioned, Mother Brenda Whitley said, “Mom, lived for this moment.” Truly, she lived her life in preparation and eager anticipation of seeing Jesus. On Tuesday evening, Mother Hayes was met by a great cloud of witnesses. She will be missed by her sister: Arthurlene King Greer; her brother: John M. Tarrant, her aunt Mrs. Clemmie Tatnull, her daughters Linda Britton, Dr. Constance (Tom) Lacy; her son W. Rodell (Susan) Norris; bonus daughters and sons; nieces, nephews, cousins, thirteen grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren, and five great, great grandchildren. She was welcomed to the great cloud of witnesses by her great grandfather Frank Buckingham, Grandmother Ophelia, her parents, husband Frank Hayes, aunt Mildred Steadham, cousins, her brothers Billy and George, and two daughters Clarine Jones (Vernell) and Rodennia Pines (Otis).

Tributes

Neita Sue Hayes

May 23, 1933 - September 27, 2022