Obituary of Mary Leola Hayes

Mary Leola Hayes, 88, of Port Murray NJ went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 with her loving family byher side.
She was born in Newark N.J. on February 19, 1929 and was the daughter of the late Theodore Noel and Mary Leila Grimsley Robinson.
Mary pursued her lifelong passion for teaching by attending NYU and completing her degree at Trenton State College. She went on to teach at the Glen Gardner and Clinton Borough Elementary Schools where she was loved and respected by all.She retired in 1986.
A deeply religious woman, Mary was a 70 + year member and Minister of Music at the First Baptist Church of Anderson NJ.As Mother of the Church she started the Red Circle Ministry, was the Choir Director taught Vacation Bible School, was a Deaconess and founded the “We Care Ministry,” which is dedicated to visiting shut-ins.
Mary was also involved with the Easton Area NAACP, an original board member of the Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program (NORWESCAP), taught at Head Start, was active in the Hillcrest Civic League of Anderson and was a talented singer.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 38 years, Elry Hayes (1985) and is survived by her children Elry Bruce Hayes and his wife Catherine of Port Murray NJ, Lauren Renee Hayes and her husband Joseph Hicks of Berkley, California, Alan Kyle Hayes and his wife Christina of Oxford NJ, a devoted sister Dr. Gloria Thomas of Franklin Park NJ, grandchildren; Rev. Erin Hayes Cook, Gabrielle Orszulak, Benjamin Orszulak, Kenya Hicks German, Joshua Brandon Hicks, Sherwood Hopkins, Lori Hopkins; great grandchildren Tatyana Maldonado, Jasmine Maldonado and Cheyenne Hicks; her precious nephew Shaar Johnston, Suyin Lael, Richard Thomas, Esquire, Rev. Daryl Robinson, Theodore Robinson, Jr. and a host of loving nieces and nephews. Sisters-in-law Lennell Herbert-Marshall, Otelia Grant, Bernice Gudjar, Vera Fennell and Fontaine Henry.
In addition to her husband she is preceded in death by her brother Theodore Robinson (1979), sisters, Dr. Gwendolyn Roquemore (2015), Eunestine Pinkman (1979), grandchild Shawn Hopkins and a foster granddaughter Patricia Hopkins.
Visitation will be on Monday from 6-9PM at DeVoe Funeral Home, 136 West Washington Ave, Washington NJ 07882. A Homegoing Service will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Tuesday November 28th, at the First Baptist Church of Anderson, 150 Jackson Street, Port Murray NJ.  Burial will be in the Washington Cemetery, Cemetery Hill Rd., Washington NJimmediately after the service. 
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the "We Care Ministry" would be greatly appreciated. Send to “We Care Ministry” C/O First Baptist Church of Anderson P.O. Box 46 Port Murray NJ 07865.