Thomas Lee Hayes

Thomas Lee Hayes, 87, of The Laurels of Forest Glenn, 1101 Hartwell Street, Garner, North Carolina, formerly of Martindale Road, Winston-Salem, NC, unexpectedly went to be with the Lord, Wednesday, November 4, 2009. Mr. Hayes had courageously fought Alzheimer's Disease and kidney problems for the past five years. Mr. Hayes was born in Danville, VA, August 6, 1922, to that late Lindolph and Charity Rhodes Hayes. Mr. Hayes lived the majority of his life in the Winston-Salem area. Mr. Hayes entered the United States Army in the spring of 1940 at the age of 17, while a student at Gray High School where he was active in athletics. After his basic training, he was trained as an infantry/fireman. He was deployed to several locations including Belgium, France and London, England. Mr. Hayes' division was heavily involved in the Normandy invasion, especially at the Omaha Beach Assault during the first wave and the first 30 hours of that battle. His unit received numerous citations/awards and one was from President Harry Truman himself, for their heroics on D-Day, June 6, 1944, which was a crucial turn in World War II. In 1945, after serving five years in the army during war time, Mr. Hayes then joined the United States Navy and remained active in the military until 1949. He was later married to Tabitha Agusta Bridges on October 15, 1949, who preceded him in death in 2005 after 56 years of marriage. Mr. Hayes was employed with Piedmont Airlines/U.S. Air and retired in 1984 with 32 years of service. He was a ""Devout"" UNC Basketball Fan and he loved nothing more than watching and listening to the Tarheels. Mrs. Hayes was a member of Urban Street Baptist Church for over 30 years, Vernon Forest Baptist Church and later Waughtown Baptist Church. He is survived by one son, Captain (Ret.) Ronald L. Hayes and wife, Wanda Branon Hayes of 117 Chillingham Road, Garner, NC; two grandchildren, Mrs. Angela Hayes Hodges and husband Arthur Griffin Hodges of Archers Lodge, NC and Miss Ashley Renee Hayes of Raleigh, NC; and one great-grandson, Joshua Hayes Hodges of Archers Lodge, NC; a brother Harry Hayes of Danville, VA, along with many cherished nieces, nephews and friends. Mr. Hayes was preceded in death by brothers, Fred, John, and Hillery and sisters, Lilian, Dolly, Nellie, Virginia, Fanny, and Mable. Mr. Hayes was a dedicated Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-grandfather, Father-in-law, Brother, Brother-in-law, uncle and friend. He will be greatly missed by his family, as well as his friends. A graveside service will be conducted 2:30 pm Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, High Point Road, Winston-Salem, NC with the Rev. Joe McWethy officiating. The VFW Memorial Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the graveside. The family will receive friends from 1pm to 2pm, Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. The family would like to thank a true friend of Mr. Hayes, Mr. Oliver C. Lanham, who visited and walked with him on a constant basis and the staff at the Laurels of Forest Glenn for the care provided for Mr. Hayes and Mrs. Hayes during the last nine years.

Cemetery:
Oaklawn Memorial Gardens

Visitation:
01:00pm - 02:00pm on November 10, 2009 at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel

Service:
Service at 02:30pm on November 10, 2009 at Graveside Service Oaklawn Memorial Gardens