On April 15, 2026, Herbert Edward Hayes of Sardis passed away at the age of 94. Herbert was born on October 20, 1931 in Rock Hill, TN to Ollie and Betty Hayes. On December 26, 1950, he married Margaret O’Nell Grissom, and together they raised five children.
A consummate farmer, Herbert began farming as soon as he could walk and did so as his only livelihood for as long as he could walk (save the four years he spent serving his country in the United States Navy), raising hogs, cows, cotton, corn, and soybeans. If you wanted Herbert, you needn’t look far – he was either on the farm, at a ball game, or at church. In addition to his long days as a farmer, he contributed many, many hours of dedicated service as both a song leader at church and a ball coach in the community.
He played high school football at age twelve; he enlisted in the Navy at age sixteen and fought in the Korean War; he was a Golden Gloves champion boxer; he tattooed himself; he rode in a Mexican rodeo with no prior experience; he was doing 100 pushups to a set into his late 80s; he “made it” as a farmer through seven decades; he was working 16-hour days on the farm when most of his peers were eating pie at the café and rocking on the front porch; he was married to the same woman for seventy years; he faithfully served Christ and His Church from the time he accepted Jesus as Lord at age 28. All who knew him would agree that “they don’t make ‘em like that anymore”.
He was the toughest of the tough guys; he was jolly; he was sharp. He was a rock of joy and a pillar of reliability for his wife and his children – day after day, year after year, decade after decade, doing the things that great men do. The radiance of his smile and the power of his laughter can’t be overstated. His life was marked by a steadfast and purposeful ordering of his resources based on his deeply held convictions.
Herbert Hayes was the kind of man that good men pray their sons will become.
Herb will be missed by the few friends whom he has not outlived; Herbert will be missed by his sister; Daddy will be missed by his children. His grandchildren and his great grandchildren will miss him, but Granny is glad to see “that Pawpaw”. Our lives will be different without him, but more importantly, our lives will be different because of him. He leaves for us a blueprint for how to live life at the crossroads of hard work, visible gladness, and faith in Christ.
Herbert died of old age in the loving care of his daughter-in-law (Tammy) and son (Randy) in the very same room where he provided end-of-life care to both of his parents.
He was preceded in death by both his parents, his older brother, Herman, and his wife, Nell. He is survived by his younger sister, Oleta Phillips; his five children, Mike Hayes (Carolyn), Steve Hayes (Alexia), Caron Snider (Jackie), Bruce Hayes (Anesia), and Randy Hayes (Tammy); eleven grandchildren, Scott Hayes (Erin), Heather Foster (David), Adam Snider (Kendall), Hunter Hayes, Miranda Guy (Alex), Garrett Hayes (Lexi), Caleb Snider (Heather), Kaitlyn Hayes, Kallie Watkins (Brennon), Kamden Hayes, and Cooper Hayes; and fifteen great grandchildren, Alex Foster, Connor Foster, Alayna Hayes, Weston Hayes, Meredith Hayes, Harper Foster, Gideon Snider, Myrah Hayes, Margaret Guy, Elizabeth Snider, Collin Guy, Moses Snider, Adelynn Watkins, Aurelia Hayes, and Judah Snider.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10 AM, Saturday, April 18, 2026 in the chapel of Pafford Funeral Home in Scotts Hill. Interment will follow in Hayes Family Gravesite in the Sardis Community. The family will receive friends on Friday, 4 – 9 PM and on Saturday 9 – 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, family request memorial be sent to Gideons International, Wounded Warriors, or Teen Challenge (Savannah or Jackson).
