Our heart, our mom, passed away Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 76 years old of metastatic breast cancer.  Patricia W. Hayes (Ma Hayes) was a lifelong learner and teacher with a 36-year career in the Upson County school system, Upson Tech, and Mercer University teaching 3rd grade thru college students; her favorite subjects to teach were math and science.

Mom's life was a love story; she was beloved by her family, and she loved fiercely.  If you were ever her student, please know that she loved each and every one of you.  Also, Mom frequently adopted her son's and daughter's friends and people she adored, so if she ever called you son or daughter, she also loved you.  The only things we know she hated were cancer and Manhattan Life Insurance Company.

She is preceded in death by her husband Emery Dana Hayes, her father Henry Walden, and sisters Sandra Newberry and Sally.  She is survived by her son Kenneth Andrew "Drew" Hayes (Thomaston), her daughter Deidre (Gregory) Griepenburg (Macon), mother Louise Boucher (Macon), sister-in-law Noel Williamson (Milledgeville), niece Debbie Newberry and her daughter Maura, nephews Artis (Jennifer) and Baileigh Williamson and Brett (Tammy) Williamson, and their two daughters and son, cousins Vicki (Mike) Eidson, Hayley (Kevin) Glover and their daughter, and Heath (Courtney) Eidson, and cousins Kathy Jo (Sam) Johnson and Lori and Britt (Shaner) Johnson and their son.

Mom will be cremated; no services are planned at this time.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to United in Pink at unitedinpink.org.  Or, simply, don't forget to give yourself a hug and hug your loved ones.  A celebration of life with friends and family to follow at a later date when it is cooler outside.