Betty Lou Brock Hays was born on August 18, 1943, in Fayette County, AL to Mart and Ruby Brock. She attended school in Fayette, AL On April 26, 1961, she married James E. Hays. They shared more than 61 years of marriage before his passing on November 26, 2022.
Betty attended Asbury Methodist Church and later attended Open Door Church, Vibrant Church, and Columbus Christian Center. She also taught adult Sunday school. Music was a special part of her life. She loved singing harmony with her son, Randy, as he played the piano. When Debbie joined them, the three enjoyed singing together as a trio.
Betty retired from the garment industry and later retired as dietary manager at the Care Center of Vernon. Among the many ladies she enjoyed working with were Doris Franks, Janice Pennington Hester, Tammy Martin, and Brenda Finch. Those ladies could tell some stories! Betty loved to laugh and have fun, and she and Doris could put on quite a show.
Her granddaughter, Lauren, was the little girl Betty and James never had. Betty loved having Lauren stay with them, fixing her hair, and spoiling her, although Papaw did most of the spoiling. Lauren especially loved her fried chicken, as did many others who enjoyed her cooking. Her great-grandson, Ridgeland, loved her cooking, too. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, James E. Hays; her parents, Mart and Ruby Brock; her stepmother, Jackie Brock; her brothers, Alfred Brock and James Brock; her sister, Virginia Brock Joyner; her nephews, Ricky Joyner and Jeff Brock; and her nieces, Gail Brock Acker and Tammy Brock White.
She is survived by her son, Randy Hays and his wife, Debbie, of New Albany, MS; her granddaughter, Lauren Womack and her husband, David, of Chelsea, AL; her great-grandchildren, Ridgeland Sisk and Skylan Bohon, of Chelsea, AL; and her brother, Bobby Brock, of Carrollton, AL Other survivors include her nephews and nieces: Stephen Joyner; Lora Joyner; Jonathan Hays and his wife, Lisa, of Gardendale, AL; Mike Hays and his wife, Beth, of Millport, AL; Lucretia Fleming of Millport, AL; Jimmy Dewayne Brock of Aliceville, AL and his girlfriend, Janice Lee of Gordo, AL, who is loved as family; Lisa Brock Bridges and her husband, Tracy, of Aliceville, AL; Natalie Shelnut and her husband, Jason, of Vernon, AL; and Holly Hays Jordon; along with a host of other family and friends.
Funeral services Wednesday, October 28, at 1:00 PM, in the chapel of Chandler Funeral Home, with Kenny Gardner and Allen Speegle officiating. Burial will follow at Asbury Community Church Cemetery. Visitation will be 11:00-1:00 prior to the service.
Pallbearers will be Scott Franks, Sean Glasgow, Shae Glasgow, Shane Glasgow, Ridgeland Sisk, and Josh Hays.
