Henrietta Hayes

HENRIETTA’S JOURNEY Henrietta, affectionately known as “Henny”, was the sixth child born to Jack and Florence Jubilee Whitney in Ocean View, DE on Thursday, November 28, 1946. She departed this earthly life and ascended to her heavenly home on Thursday, October 6, 2022. Henrietta attended George Washington Elementary School in Frankford, DE. She also attended William C. Jason Comprehensive High School in Georgetown, DE and was amongst the last class who graduated in 1967. Henrietta worked various jobs in her lifetime. She was employed at the Carousel Hotel in Ocean City, MD as a banquet hostess for 14 years and at the Stockley Center in Georgetown, DE as a job coach, retiring after 20 years due to illness. From her previous marriage, she had three sons. She met and married Leroy “Sonny” Hayes in 1985. During her adult years, Henrietta joined the Boy Scouts Troop #258 and was with them as a scout mother for ten years. She enjoyed going camping with the boys. She was a member of the Red Hat Club, called the Red Rubies and monthly served the community food at St. Marks in Millsboro, DE. Henrietta loved people. Some of her favorite things were cooking, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and reading novels. She loved to travel and especially going shopping and out to eat with her Pastor, Reverend Annie Custis. It was a pleasure for her when her sons would come to see her and lay across her bed and they would just talk. She was a mother who always had prayer with them each day. Henrietta joined St. John 2nd Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Annie Custis. She was grateful for Pastor Custis showing her how to minster and nurture people. She was a Missionary, a member of the Women’s Ministry, on the committee that hosted the annual Mother/Daughter Tea and she loved helping decorate the church hall for various events. She also had the opportunity to dance with St. John’s Higher Praize dance ministry. That was a delight for her because she always enjoyed watching them dance. She loved her church and always came in the church praising the LORD. Henrietta was preceded in death by both parents, five siblings and one stepson. Henrietta leaves to cherish precious memories: a husband, Leroy “Sonny” Hayes; four sons, Azzinaro Hayes of Chaparral, NM, Herbert (Patricia) Holden of Capitol Heights, MD, Henry Holden, Sr. of Ocean City, MD and Harvey (Melissa) Holden of Selbyville, DE; two sisters, Rose Mary Woodlyn of Sacramento, CA and Bessie Whitney of Fenwick, DE; one sister-in-law, Mary Whitney of Dover, DE; one brother-in-law, Andrew (Celeste) Beckett of Accomac, VA; adopted sons, Ira “Yankee” Bull, Steve Willey, James Williams, and Elder James Short; sisters, Andrea Dismuke, Doris D’Orazio, Mary Watson, Phynette Kingsberry, Ruth Walker, Lillie Showell and Anna Ford; ten grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. Lovingly Submitted ~ Henrietta “Henny” Hayes

Henrietta Hayes

November 28, 1949 - October 6, 2022