Obituary

Marridean Griffin Hayward, beloved daughter of the late Boysie and Bertha Lee Griffin, was born on December 28, 1933 in Mitchell County, Georgia.

At a very early age having professed the faith and belief in the Lord, she began her Christian walk at the St. Peter African Methodist Episcopal Church in Camilla, Georgia. She later became a member of Beulah Missionary Baptist Church, where she was baptized and received the "right hand of fellowship" into the body of CHRIST. At Beulah, she was a member of the Senior Choir; the Senior Mission; and Sunday School. She attended Rockdale School in Camilla.

Mama Dean, as she was affectionately called, was a woman who feared the Lord, a woman of prayer and faith, and a woman whose life was a blessing to many people.

On May 20, 1949, she was united in marriage to Henry Hayward, Sr. They were blessed with four children whom she nurtured with patience, discipline, humility, and love. As a mother, homemaker, domestic worker, baker, seamstress, caregiver, she was diligent in caring for the needs of her family. Even when faced with life's challenges and all seemed impossible she persevered and never gave up. She always took great pride in a "job well done."

Mama Dean was a strong but gentle woman with a heart of gold. She was compassionate, patient, and loving. Her impact reached far beyond her family's lives; she was loved and respected in her community.

As a founding member of the Volunteer Workers Club she proudly served her community by volunteering at the Mitchell County Convalescent Center, feeding the hungry, providing transportation, participating in Relay for Life, and visiting the sick.

On Thursday morning, July 27, 2017, she answered the Master's call at Mitchell County Hospital in Camilla, Georgia and made a peaceful transition to her eternal home. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Betty Carol Hayward; sisters, Matilda, Bertha, Irene, Annie Mae, and Evelyn; brothers, Claude, Steven, Benjamin; grandson, Niko Neal; great granddaughter, Rah'Asia Silas.

Loving memories will forever be cherished by her three children, Elizabeth (Hosea) Brinson, Henry Hayward, Jr. (Sandra), Randolph Hayward (Rose) of Camilla, Georgia; a brother-in-law, Benjamin (Gustine) Hayward of Camilla, Georgia; seventeen grandchildren, Tahisha (Nelson) Thompson of Chesapeake, Virginia, Eldred (Cynthia) Brinson of New Braunfels, Texas, Shumonica (Andrew) Coe of Camilla, Georgia, Tavis (Amanda) Brinson of Kissimmee, Florida, Keisha Hayward Yates of Atlanta, Georgia, Randy (DeAnne) Williams of Portsmouth, Virginia, Pascha (Orenthal) Spence of Camilla, Georgia, Marcus (Laconia) Thomas of Atlanta, Georgia, Brad Brown of Camilla, Georgia, Darris Hayward of Union City, Georgia, Tania Hayward of Union City, Georgia, Tiesha Hayward of Camilla, Georgia, Christopher Hayward of Camilla, Georgia, Audris Williams of Atlanta, Georgia, Audra Williams of Atlanta, Georgia, Laquandria Hayward of Fort Stewart, Georgia, Jamond Vicks of Camilla, Georgia; forty-three great grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; her Golden Girls Friends, Gladys Williams, Annie Thomas, Cora Lee Odoms; bonus son, Ronald Spence of Camilla, Georgia; bonus daughter, TerLisa Williams of Thomasville, Georgia; many nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.

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