There are times when we all feel that our earthly journey is too short. During those moments, we want to call out to our Lord and Savior and ask him to wait…....give us a little more time. But GOD is all knowing and with his infinite wisdom knows when the job he has given us to perform has been done………and at that moment; that “very moment” is when GOD calls us home…….
GOD called home another one of his faithful servants. Haywood Lena Madline Simpson Hailey, affectionately called
“Ms. Lena”. She transitioned from this earthly life on Wednesday February 13, 2019 at 5:40 am.
Lena revered the Lord. She praised him. She gave honor to his name at all times and loved him with all her heart, mind, body and soul.
Born May 8, 1923 to share croppers Fred and Eva Simpson in Monroe N.C., Lena was one of six children - 3 sisters and 3 brothers. Lena loved her mother, father, brothers and sisters dearly.
Lena attended and graduated from Winchester Elementary High School. She was very proud of this accomplishment, since many children of her generation, including some in her immediate family were unable to do so because of personal family obligations. While in school her favorite subjects were science and math. She loved experimenting with “stuff” just to see if she could create a new useful remedy. From creating a banana and honey facial mask, growing a plant from a leaf or a cut potato or truly setting a finger straight with Popsicle sticks, her experimenting gave her confidence and knowledge of life’s infinite possibilities. In later years, this zest for trying new healing techniques aided her greatly and encouraged her to pursue an interest in “nursing. Though never receiving a formal degree, Lena used her “GOD given nursing talents” (as she called them) to help family and neighbors. From a common cold to a broken heart, Lena assessed it, and applied her special home remedies to fix it. “Laughter is the best medicine and a smile can go a long way in healing any ailment” was her personal mantra. And during her lifetime, Lena provided a lot of healing with her infectious smile and colorful humor.
She often shared “that she never met any stranger that she could not get a genuine smile from”….and I believed she did!!
A prayerful women, strong in her faith, Lena believed with GOD everything was possible. Living her life to reflect what she believed, she took on challenges through her community support and Red Cross volunteer activities.
Lena was passionate about uplifting her neighbors far and wide – even to the point of joining the “Poor Peoples March Campaign” in 1968 as they traveled through Charlotte to Washington D. C.
She was dedicated to her community and a strong role model. She was proud to be a part of and to complete a special City program called “Neighborhood Agents”. Ladies from the community volunteered to be watchful eyes and ears to monitor service needs within the neighborhood. She relished her training for this role provided at Johnson C. Smith University and Central Piedmont Community College. She was a strong advocate for “what was right or wrong” between low income communities and government support services. She was a proud supporter of the NAACP and the Rainbow Coalition, and donated time and what little financial means she had to support children’s organizations. She was a registered voter, and with the help of the center where she lived in 2008 (The Little Flowers Assisted Living) cast her vote for the 1st African American President – Barack Obama. Her love for people - young, old, in between, all colors of the rainbow and concern for her fellow man was demonstrated throughout her earthly journey. She never felt the need for assistance from anyone, and believed her sole purpose in life was to assist others.
Lena was preceded in death by her husband Vance Hailey; two son’s Vance Fredrick Hailey and John Lee Hailey Sr. and great grand-son Jakeem Hailey.
To carry forth her precious memories, she is survived by her daughter, Darlene H. McClenny (husband - Andrew M McClenny Jr.); daughter-in-law, Aurelia H. Hailey; honored and devoted former daughters-in-law, Brenda D. Davis (husband - John Davis) and Cynthia Tinsley; 14 grand-children that she loved beyond reason, Joseph D. Hailey, Darshawnda H. Brown (husband - Ronald Brown), Andrew M. McClenny, Anthony M. McClenny, Michael V. Hailey, John L. Hailey III, Nicholas A. Hailey, Alex J. Hailey all of Charlotte NC, step-son Broderick G. Jackson of Gastonia N.C.; John L. Hailey II; Maurisa H. Hart (husband - Sterling Hart II), Christopher L. Hailey (fiancée - Jeanne) and Ivey N. Hailey (wife - Kellie) of Baltimore MD; 22 grandchildren whom she adored - Kyndal K. Baldwin, Kache’ G. Travers, Kayleigh G. Ruffin; Jordan D. Hailey, Sterling M. Hart III, Markiez J. Dixon, Bryen S. Hailey, Niyah Hailey, Karaun Hailey, Christopher A. Hailey, Keyshawn A. Hailey, Austin J. Hailey, Aaron I. Hailey, Alyssa A. Hailey all of Baltimore MD; Solomon Hailey, Sophia Hailey, Morgan Hailey all of Charlotte N.C. and 2 God-daughters Celathia Cokley, and Tammy Moore, of Charlotte N.C. and a host of relatives and friends.
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