Mr. Hays was born on April 11, 1942 in Atlanta, GA to Robert Bond Hays and Virginia Pritchard Hays. After graduating from Hartwell High School, he attended Furman University on a football scholarship. He earned his BA and MA from Furman and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order.
Mr. Hays was Head Coach at Commerce High School. He then returned to Furman to accept a position as Assistant Coach under Bob King.
Mr. Hays worked for more than 40 years at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company as a sales representative and district manager.
Mr. Hays was an avid runner, completing six marathons, including one with each of his children, and countless Peachtree Road races throughout his life. He was an Eagle Scout, President of the Paladin Club, President of the Poinsett Club, Chair of the Board of Deacons at First Baptist Church Greenville and a member of the Furman University Advisory Board.
Mr. Hays is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert Bond Hays, Jr.. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Haygood Hays; his children, Melanye Hays Cravey (Rick) of Atlanta, GA and Justin Hayden Hays (Denise) of Portland, OR: and his grandchildren: Samuel Lee Cravey, Hayden Luke Cravey and Jude Arthur Hays.
Visitation will begin 1:00 PM Monday, July 23, 2018 at First Baptist Church Greenville, with a 2:00 PM memorial service to follow.
Sign online guestbook: www.mackeymortuary.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Greenville, 847 Cleveland Street, Greenville, SC 29601, www.firstbaptistgreenville.com; or Triune Mercy Center, 222 Rutherford Street, Greenville, SC 29609, www.triunemercy.org.
Arrangements by Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Century Dr., 864-232-6706.