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John Whittington Hayes
John Whittington Hayes, 72, of Southern Shores, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on November 26, 2024, surrounded by family, following a lengthy illness. He was born to parents Wilson Cox Hayes (Buddy) and Ann Wallace Hayes on April 7, 1952 in Hampton, Virginia. He had 3 younger siblings, Wilson, Susann, and Tom.
John grew up in the Beaconsdale neighborhood in Newport News and would frequently get together with friends at Deer Park to play baseball. He attended Warwick High School, where he continued baseball and graduated in 1970. He went on to study Political Science at the University of South Carolina and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree. While at South Carolina, John joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, resulting in many lifelong friendships.
During college, John met his future wife, Jan. They were married on April 14, 1979 in Newport News, Virginia. Together they raised 3 children, Matt, Kathryn, and Erin in Newport News and Poquoson, Virginia. More recently, John and family moved to Southern Shores, North Carolina. He was employed for the majority of his career at the Newport News Shipyard, holding several roles, including a Senior Buyer in the Purchasing Department. He retired in 2008.
John had a love for music, most notably the Grateful Dead, and enjoyed attending live shows with friends. John also continued his love of sports by playing in adult league baseball, coaching his kids through Poquoson Little League and travel ball, and attending MLB games at ballparks across the east coast. John also loved following his Gamecocks in college football and taking annual trips to Pimlico for the Preakness Horseraces with his friends and family.
John is survived by his wife of 45 years, Jan; brother, Wilson (Grace); sister, Susann (Owen); children Matt (Lauren), Kathryn, Erin; grandchildren, Bryce, Dylan, Sawyer, Emmi; beloved nieces and nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, Buddy; mother, Ann; and brother, Tom.
The Hayes family would like to express thanks to the Outer Banks ER and Hospice Staff. A celebration of life will be held at a date to be determined into 2025. The family appreciates the kind messages, phone calls, and prayers. Expressions of sympathy are welcome at www.gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services was entrusted with arrangements.
Condolences
Jan I am so sorry for your loss. I will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Sending love and hugs❤️❤️
I am so sorry to hear about John's passing. We talked off and on through Facebook. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the Hayes family. Love Vicki
My love goes out to your family . You have spent your life with one of the nicest man I have ever met. 🎶And he always let it known you are all why he was a happy guy and kept striving . From a grateful friend of John and Tom and gastro researcher at uva i🙏🏼. Blessed to have danced and sing along with John!
Great memories of John and his family. I went to school with him through elementary and high school. My sister and I spent many days watching him play baseball and hanging out at Deer Park. He will be missed by many of his Newport News friends, Thoughts and prayers for your family! Evelyn
I am so sorry for your loss and remember John from days at WHS. Thoughts and prayers for you.
Too much to say and share. Will miss him. At least I have the memories. Rock On Fish. See you at the show or track. Love to Jan, Matt and the girls
I sure will miss the lad. Countless tall tales to be told about John with many stories about times at Pimlico , his Warwick high school and Warwick legion baseball days , thousands of softball games played , trips to Williams Brice to watch the Gamecocks and many Friday nights out. John sure loved his family and his many friends and enjoyed his Sf Giants and Gamecock sports. Sure we all have some good John stories to share. He is now up in Heaven with his parents His baby Brother Tom and fellow Preakness fellas Ralph Hogge, Kenny Stepp and Tom Morris. Rest in peace my good friend!
I am one of the many fraternity brothers who enjoyed a lifelong friendship with John. While we only met occasionally after college (at Dead shows, horse races, etc.), it was always as if we’d seen each other just yesterday. I am profoundly sorry for John’s family and so many friends at his passing. Rest in peace, brother.
John was a dear childhood friend whom I held in the highest esteem. Deep condolences to Jan and their family as well as Wilson and Susann. Rest in Peace, John.
To All the love ones of John! So Very Sorry to hear of John’s passing. I grew up with John in Beaconsdale and so remember him and the Great Guy he was. Please except my Deepest Sympathy with Love and Comfort!!! Gail Penfield Gulla ❤️🙏✝️🕊️😇
I have fond high school memories of John on the baseball field and off. He was super nice. After graduating, I lost contact with him but it was great to see he went to USC and met his wife and shared a many years with her and his children. Praying for you and your family as you adjust to the absence of John.
My deepest condolences to the entire Hayes family. John and the Hayes family were a part of my life from age 12 onward. So much fun. So many great times. Lot's of good memories. Rest in peace John.
My deepest condolences to the entire Hayes family. Growing up, John and the Hayes family were a part of my life from age 12 onward. So much fun. So many great times. Lot's of good memories. Rest in peace John.
John was a great person and will be missed by many people. We worked countless hours together at NNS. There were great times together at parties and cold beers at the Silver Star restaurant. Many fond memories were made. Rest in peace.
John was a great person and will be missed by many people. We worked countless hours together at NNS. There were great times together at parties and cold beers at the Silver Star restaurant. Many fond memories were made. Rest in peace.
John and Wilson were fraternity brothers at South Carolina and I have fond memories of both of them. John (or Wilson, I'm not sure) gave me tour of the Newport News shipyard, and took me aboard USS NIMITZ and USS SOUTH CAROLINA, both of which were under construction there. It sounds like John had a happy and successful life, which gives me satisfaction and comfort. RIP
John and I would ride with our parents to Cotillion.
Jan I am so sorry for your loss. I will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Sending love and hugs❤️❤️
I am so sorry to hear about John’s passing. We talked off and on through Facebook. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the Hayes family.
Love
Vicki
My love goes out to your family . You have spent your life with one of the nicest man I have ever met. 🎶And he always let it known you are all why he was a happy guy and kept striving . From a grateful friend of John and Tom and gastro researcher at uva i🙏🏼. Blessed to have danced and sing along with John!
Great memories of John and his family. I went to school with him through elementary and high school. My sister and I spent many days watching him play baseball and hanging out at Deer Park. He will be missed by many of his Newport News friends, Thoughts and prayers for your family! Evelyn
I am so sorry for your loss and remember John from days at WHS. Thoughts and prayers for you.
Too much to say and share. Will miss him. At least I have the memories. Rock On Fish. See you at the show or track. Love to Jan, Matt and the girls
I sure will miss the lad. Countless tall tales to be told about John with many stories about times at Pimlico , his Warwick high school and Warwick legion baseball days , thousands of softball games played , trips to Williams Brice to watch the Gamecocks and many Friday nights out. John sure loved his family and his many friends and enjoyed his Sf Giants and Gamecock sports. Sure we all have some good John stories to share. He is now up in Heaven with his parents His baby Brother Tom and fellow Preakness fellas Ralph Hogge, Kenny Stepp and Tom Morris. Rest in peace my good friend!
I am one of the many fraternity brothers who enjoyed a lifelong friendship with John. While we only met occasionally after college (at Dead shows, horse races, etc.), it was always as if we’d seen each other just yesterday. I am profoundly sorry for John’s family and so many friends at his passing. Rest in peace, brother.
John was a dear childhood friend whom I held in the highest esteem. Deep condolences to Jan and their family as well as Wilson and Susann. Rest in Peace, John.
To All the love ones of John!
So Very Sorry to hear of John’s passing.
I grew up with John in Beaconsdale and so remember him and the Great Guy he was. Please except my Deepest Sympathy with Love and Comfort!!!
Gail Penfield Gulla ❤️🙏✝️🕊️😇
I have fond high school memories of John on the baseball field and off. He was super nice. After graduating, I lost contact with him but it was great to see he went to USC
and met his wife and shared a many years with her and his children. Praying for you and your family as you adjust to the absence of John.
My deepest condolences to the entire Hayes family. John and the Hayes family were a part of my life from age 12 onward. So much fun. So many great times. Lot’s of good memories.
Rest in peace John.
My deepest condolences to the entire Hayes family. Growing up, John and the Hayes family were a part of my life from age 12 onward. So much fun. So many great times. Lot’s of good memories.
Rest in peace John.
John was a great person and will be missed by many people. We worked countless hours together at NNS. There were great times together at parties and cold beers at the Silver Star restaurant. Many fond memories were made. Rest in peace.
John was a great person and will be missed by many people. We worked countless hours together at NNS. There were great times together at parties and cold beers at the Silver Star restaurant. Many fond memories were made. Rest in peace.
John and Wilson were fraternity brothers at South Carolina and I have fond memories of both of them. John (or Wilson, I’m not sure) gave me tour of the Newport News shipyard, and took me aboard USS NIMITZ and USS SOUTH CAROLINA, both of which were under construction there. It sounds like John had a happy and successful life, which gives me satisfaction and comfort. RIP
John and I would ride with our parents to Cotillion.