Opal Geneva “Susie” Hale Hayes was born April 17, 1921 in, Sparta, Tennessee, to Samuel Escol Hale and Sophia Jane Dodson Hale.
She was a lifetime Methodist, baptized in Caney Fork River at Fraser’s Chapel Church, in 1930.
As a 1940 graduate of White County High School, she was a member and officer of the Niobian Literary Society. She married Willard Lincoln Hayes, on Oct. 28, 1939, during her senior year in White County High School. After her graduation, Willard got a job with the Navy, and they relocated to the metropolitan Washington, District of Columbia, and then later moved to the suburban Maryland area.
During the 1940’s, she raised four daughters and participated as room mother for elementary schools, WWII stamp lady, Riverdale Baptist Church Sunday School teacher, and Girl Scout leader. Thereafter she became active in the University Methodist Church, College Park, MD, and Prince George’s County, MD Women’s Club, studied china painting and became a teacher of porcelain art with “Susie’s Girls” and member of Potomac China Painters Association.
Upon returning to Sparta, in 1974, she continued activities as a Methodist, including being greeter at Sparta First UMC, member Friendship Sunday School class, member of United Methodist Women and Christian Women’s Club. All the while, she cared for her aging parents and continued with teaching the craft of porcelain art in local White County.
She was active with the Business & Professional Women’s Club in White County and was a member in Tennessee Porcelain Art Club, the local Arts Club, and was an International Porcelain Artist exhibiting and donating her artwork. In addition, family matters, such as attending Dodson, Davis, Austin reunions and organizing the Hale Reunion, were priorities that led to becoming a charter member of the White County Genealogical Historical Society and a lifetime member of the Van Buren County Historical Society.
She is survived by her four daughters, Christine Miller, of Hickory Valley, Jean Rader, of Hixson, Geneva Hayes, of Sparta, and Sharon Simmons of Spencer; is a proud grandmother to Jonathan (Lisa) Halstead, Bruce (Theresa) Fike, Denise Qualls, Robert (Debbie) Honaker, Erin (Wesley) Hutchings, Melissa Rader, Brian Miller, Michael (Kristi) Honaker, Katherine (Chad) Garland, Daniel (Paige) Honaker. She has ten great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren, and many step-grands, step-great-grands and step-great-great-grands.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Ruby Lee Hale; her husband, Willard Lincoln Hayes; and her sons-in-law, Rudolph Miller, Rex Rader, and Joe Honaker.
Memorial donations may be designated to Sparta First United Methodist Church or Fraser’s Cemetery or Lost Creek Cemetery c/o Thurman Funeral Home, 44 N. Main St., Sparta, Tennessee 38583
The family will receive friends 4-8 p.m., May 2, 2025, at Sparta First United Methodist Church. Service will be 1 p.m., May 3, at the church. Bro. Jeff Guth will officiate. Interment will follow in the Fraser’s Chapel Cemetery.
Thurman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
