House Resolution 43

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MRS. NANCY POWELL HAYES AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HER PASSING.

WHEREAS, it is written in II Corinthians 4:17-18, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal," and as such, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, Mrs. Nancy Powell Hayes, to rest eternally, on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, as she has made life's final transition from earthly travailing to heavenly reward, rendering great sorrow and loss to her family and friends; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi lost a wonderful friend with the passing of Mrs. Hayes, one of ten children born in Amite County in the Jerusalem Community of Liberty, Mississippi, to her late parents, Mr. Emerson Powell and Mrs. Lillie Azalee Moore Powell, on October 4, 1922, and there is now a hush in our hearts as we come together to pay our respects to the memory of one who has been called to join that innumerable heavenly caravan; and

WHEREAS, a diligent worker, nurturer and provider, Mrs. Hayes received her elementary education at Jerusalem School before graduating from Amite County Training School, and further nurturing her passion for education by matriculating at Mississippi Valley State University, where she attained a bachelor of science degree in elementary education; and

WHEREAS, fate would lend itself to being built in accordance with the blueprint divinely designed for the pattern of young Nancy's life by the Great Deity and grand architect of our lives' destiny, when her heart was pierced by the love, chivalry and affection of the Reverend Mack Arthur Hayes Sr., who she met as a high school senior, and the duo became bone of one another's bone and flesh of one another's flesh shortly after her high school graduation upon exchanging nuptials on November 15, 1940, building a lifetime of memories with the addition of two children, a son and a daughter, with each of whom they shared the abundant blessings of love, honor and humility until it was orchestrated by God's perfect will for their lives that Mr. Hayes should be summoned to the fulfillment of God's heavenly purpose in eternity; and

WHEREAS, cognizant of the words recorded in I John 3:2 - "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is," "Nanny," as she was affectionately referred, strove diligently to exemplify a Christ-like walk before family, fulfilling the role as wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend; and

WHEREAS, having discovered a niche for education early in life, upon receipt of her baccalaureate degree, Mrs. Hayes commenced her professional career, which would evolve into her recognition as a highly revered educator, with the Greene County School System as an elementary and remedial reading teacher, for a career which spanned 42 years; and

WHEREAS, a God-fearing Christian before all other roles she assumed, a nurturing, protective and caring mother next, Mrs. Hayes was the epitome of a woman of Proverbs 31:10 virtue who possessed an ambitious spirit akin to that of King David, in her role as a pastor's wife and funeral director, all of which confirm the recording of Romans 14:8, "If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord"; and

WHEREAS, though she has traversed the river of life to reunite in glorious fanfare with those loved ones who made life's transition to eternity before her, including her parents, husband, son, McArthur "Tiny" Hayes Jr., daughter, RoseMary Hayes Williams, five brothers, three sisters, one grandson and two stepchildren, Reverend Robert Lewis Hayes and Mrs. Marion Jones, the legacy of Mrs. Hayes's indelible imprint upon our lives will continue to refresh the hearts and fond memories of her beloved survivors: granddaughters, State Representative Sonya Williams-Barnes, Dr. Thea Hayes Williams Black and Ms. Althea McDonald; grandson, Mr. Arthur D. Hayes; sister, Mrs. Ada Williamson; seven great-grandchildren, Tyron Hayes, Kenson Barnes, Tyreek Hayes, Thea Emerson Black, Kristyn Jones, Hydia McDonald and Jordyn McDonald; one son-in-law, Reverend Theodore R. Williams Jr.; two daughters-in-law, Mrs. Jeanette Hayes Pou and Mrs. Autry Hayes; and a host of other relatives and very dear friends; and

WHEREAS, we encourage the family to find solace from the overwhelming sadness created by the earthly departure of their beloved family member and be renewed in their faith that "Nanny" Hayes fulfilled the purpose of her appointed time in adherence to the commandment of II Timothy 4:7, by having "fought a good fight, finishing her course and keeping the faith until the hour of her departure was at hand"; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the life of a genuine and selfless individual such as Mrs. Hayes, whose light illuminated the path of hope for all she encountered along this earthly sojourn:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commemorate the life and legacy of Mrs. Nancy Powell Hayes, and express sincere sympathy to our friend and colleague, the Honorable Representative Sonya Williams-Barnes, and to her entire family and friends upon her passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the surviving family of Mrs. Nancy Powell Hayes and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.