Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at Enon Baptist Church for Mr. William Augustus “W.A.” Hayward Jr., 87, of Grenada, who died on Sunday, Jan. 21, in Greenwood. Burial followed in Woodlawn Memorial Park. The Rev. Truman Scarborough, the Rev. Lowell Ingram, the Rev. Jerry Beam and the Rev. Lynn Welch officiated. The family received friends from 1 p.m. until the hour of the service on Friday, Jan. 26, at the church.
W.A. was born on May 22, 1936, in Grenada, the son of the late William Augustus Sr. and the late Vera McCormick Hayward. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from Mississippi State University. Mr. Hayward honorably served in the Mississippi Army National Guard for 24 years and retired as a lieutenant colonel. He was a founding member and deacon of Enon Baptist Church in Grenada. W.A. owned and operated a farm operation for a number of years and later owned and operated several H&R Block franchises. He will long be remembered for his sharp mind, quick wit and kind spirit.
Survivors include, his wife, Patsy Sykes Hayward; two sons, Whit Wheeler (Kristen) of Arlington, Va., and West Wheeler (Melissa) of Grenada; sister, Margaret Russell (Darrell) of Oxford, and seven grandchildren, Ethan Wheeler, Elijah Wheeler, Joshua Wheeler, Sarah Wheeler, Jacob Wheeler, Zach Swartz and Eli Swartz.
Jerry Boyett, Roger Havens, Charlie Honea, Shane King, Dr. Richard Reid and Steven Russell honored Mr. Hayward by serving as pallbearers and carried him to rest in the Hayward family plot in Woodlawn Memorial Park. Jimmy Briscoe, Wayne Bush, J.A. Hoop, Bill Jones, Robert Kincaid, Jerry King, Shannon King, Dynamite Kirk, Kenton McGee, Woody McGee, Cotton Marter, Jackie O’Bannon, Larry Patton, Sam Pittman, Roy Sims, Mark Wolf and Dustin Worsham served as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to Enon Baptist Church, 2604 Carrollton Rd., Grenada, MS 38901.
Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com
McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada was in charge of arrangements.
