Lena F. Hayes

Mrs. Lena Fields Hayes of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on July 23, 2014. She was 100 years old. Funeral services will be held on July 29th . at 11am at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 1150 Westview Dr. SW, Interment will follow at Monte Vista Biblical Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and Sadie Mays Rehabilitation Center.

Lena Fields Hayes was born in Bone-Woodie, S.C. on February 28, 1914. Her parents were the late Major and Hattie Christian. She was the widow of the former Rev. Simon P. Fields and Deacon Coleman Hayes. Lena completed Booker T. Washington High School and later received an associate degree in Christian Education from the Interdenominational Theological Center. The mother of six children worked as a receptionist at the High Museum of Art for 33 years. Lena was a committed Sunday School Teacher for a number of years. She worked with the Missionary Society and the Deaconess Board. She was chosen at one time to be the Women's Day Speaker for the church, an honor she was very proud of. For years up until her illness, she was a dedicated tither and contributed faithfully to the Atlanta Union Mission. She was particularly faithful to her outreach mission, distributing magazines (Bread and Water) whenever she went in or out of town.

On her 100 th birthday, Lena was celebrated at her home church, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. Family members from Alabama, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and Georgia joined church members and friends to honor one remarkable woman. She received greetings from President Barack Obama, Willard Scott and the Atlanta City Council.

She is survived by her brother Eddie Williams, her children: Lynette Byrom, Sylvia Cook (Dr. Samuel DuBois), Barbara Huff and Reverend William P. Fields (Brenda), grandchildren: Hardy Franklin, Jr., William Fields, Mark Byrom, Brennita Keith, Tasha Hawkins, Todd Byrom (Jamilah), Samuel DuBois Cook, Jr. (Nikki), Kimberly Huff Atkins (Temetris) and Karen Jarcelyn Cook. She had seven great grandchildren, one great, great grandchild and a host of other relatives and friends. Two of her children preceded her death: Jarcelyn Fields Franklin and Thomas Michael Fields.