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Mr. William James (Bill) Hays, Sr.

  • November 24, 1924 - July 23, 2012
  • Albany, Georgia
  • Hopeful Baptist Church
    2655 GA Hwy 97
    Camilla, GA 31730
  • Georgia Baptist Children's Home Central Office
    P.O. Box 329
    Palmetto, GA 30268
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“To the Hays Family, I wanted to extend my heartfelt condolescence to this family in this time of this tragic moment. I hope that the family will stay...Read More » ”
1 of 13 | Posted by: Bristria - Albany, GA - Friend

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Curt & Kathleen ”
2 of 13 | Posted by: Kathleen & Curtis Bailey - Tampa, FL

“To the extended Hayes family, our sincere sympathy and blessings on the passing of "Papa". Bob & Mary Longenecker ”
3 of 13 | Posted by: Bob & Mary Longenecker - MO

“Katie, our thoughts and prayers are with you. We know how hard this is to lose a parent. God bless and may you have peace. Susie and Rick Jones ”
4 of 13 | Posted by: Susie and Rick Jones - MO

“Dear Marcia, Butch, David and Katie, Jennifer lives in Albany and saw that Bill had died. She called me to let me know. I am so sorry to hear...Read More » ”
5 of 13 | Posted by: Dianne Marchant Gove - Monroe, GA

“Marcia and Toby so sorry to hear of your loss, you are in our prayers, Ellis and Nancy Benson ”
6 of 13 | Posted by: Ellis Benson - Macon, GA - Friend

“To Marcia and Toby, Our heartfelt sorrow is extended to you and your family. May God's Grace be with you during this time and in the coming days....Read More » ”
7 of 13 | Posted by: Jim Herschell - Moultrie, GA

“Dear Marcia, Toby and Family, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you during this very hard...Read More » ”
8 of 13 | Posted by: Peggy Lawrence Thomas - GA

“Marcia and family, very sorry for your loss. ”
9 of 13 | Posted by: Lou Taylor - Albany, GA - Friend

“Billy was a good man and will be sorely missed by friends and family. As the youngest of his family he ws only a few years my senior and we related...Read More » ”
10 of 13 | Posted by: Paul J Keadle Jr - Apex, NC

“Katie and family, I am saddened to hear that your Daddy is no longer with us. He touched so many lives in so many ways. He was a TRUE foundation to...Read More » ”
11 of 13 | Posted by: Kay Pierce Bradley - Albany, GA

“Marcia, So sorry to hear about your Dad. Please accept my most heartfelt sympathy. My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult...Read More » ”
12 of 13 | Posted by: Rani Pace Bailey - Albany, GA

“Butch and Family, I am sorry to hear about your father passing away. You are in my thoughts and prayers. ”
13 of 13 | Posted by: Dave Branch - Montgomery, AL


Mr. William James (Bill) Hays, 87, of Albany died peacefully at home, July 23, 2012. He was a mischievous soul with a great love of his family. He had an uncompromising sense of right and wrong.
Funeral services will be Saturday 10 AM at Kimbrell-Stern. Rev. Josh Duckworth officiating. Interment will follow at Hopeful Baptist Church Cemetery in Mitchell Co.
A native of Hopeful, GA, Mr. Hays has lived in Albany since 1964, where he was a member of Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church, and former longtime member and deacon of First Baptist Church of Albany. He served in the United States Army Air Corp. during W.W. II as a radio operator and navigator on a B-17 bomber. Mr. Hays retired from the UGA Cooperative Extension Service with 30 years of service. After his retirement he was a pecan specialist, and was instrumental in starting numerous pecan groves in Dougherty County. He was a longtime member and past-president of the Exchange Club of Albany and a member of the American Legion. Mr. Hays was the youngest of 14 children.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley W. Hays of Albany, his children, William James (Butch) Hays, Jr. and his wife Esther of La Mesa, CA, Marcia Hays Barfield and her husband Toby of Chapel Hill, NC, David Thomas Hays and his wife Carrie Ellen of Senoia, GA and Katie Hays Goette and her husband John of St. Louis, MO, grandchildren, William James Hays, III, Lauren Ney, Toland Barfield, Ginger Baxley, Christian Revell, Garrett Hays, Beth Kelley and Matthew Goette, 8 great-grandchildren, sister, Esther Connell of Pelham, GA.
Mr. Hays was preceded in death by his parents, Luther Henry and Katie West Hays, his wife, Virginia Hays and 12 brothers and sisters.
The family will receive friends Friday from 6:00 PM till 8:00 PM at Kimbrell-Stern.
Those desiring, please make memorials to Hopeful Baptist Church 2655 GA Hwy 97, Camilla, GA, 31730 or Georgia Baptist Children's Home Central Office P.O. Box 329 Palmetto, Georgia, 30268