Today, Thursday, January 19, 2023, my best friend left this earth for his Heavenly home.
Donald “LEE” Hayes Jr, age 59, of Lula, Georgia.
Mr. Hayes was born on December 4, 1963, to Don and Shelba (Cagle) Hayes. He was preceded in death by his mother, Shelba, and his brother, Randal.
Lee left behind many loved ones, including his wife, Donna; His “Pops,” Donald Hayes Sr. (Jackie), of Hoschton, GA; his younger brother, Brad (Ashley) Hayes; his nephews and niece Brady, Hudson, & Anniston Hayes, of Monroe, NC; special aunt, Linda Montez Moore, of Braselton, GA; mother-in-law, Cletta Robbins, of Lula, GA; his stepdaughter and family, Crystle (Dustin) Epps; grandsons, Tucker and Tanner, of Morristown, TN; his stepson and family, Jason (Jamie) Roesch; grandchildren, Chase and Quinn, of Trenton, OH; special friend of the family, Kathy Van Fleet, of Oakwood, GA; Lees loving pets, Bocephus and Shelby, who stayed by his side throughout this battle. They will miss his playing fetch & numerous back and tummy rubs.
Lee worked for Carters Oshkosh in Braselton before getting sick. He also did mapping for SRI & Davey. He graduated from Duluth High School in 1983. In his earlier years, he loved riding motocross and watching NASCAR. Lee was an avid Georgia Bulldawg Fan. He made many life-long friendships (JJRCC) through his love of listening to music. He loved visiting, looking for seashells, walking and watching the sunset on the beaches in Redington Shores, Florida. In February 2013, while working in Florida, he met Donna and they quickly became best friends! They shared lots of love, happiness, laughter, and little adventures getting to know one another. On August 28, 2019, they were married in front of the beautiful Cumberland Falls in Southeastern Kentucky.
Since March 2020, Lee has fought hard to beat colon cancer. Lee accepted Jesus on July 26, 2020, and was baptized on August 1, 2021, by Rev. Dustin Epps at Faith Independent Baptist Church in Morristown, TN. Through his faith in God and God’s promises of Eternal life….he had the courage and strength to fight this wicked battle.
A Service Celebrating his Homecoming will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday. January 21, 2023, at the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel in Demorest, GA.
Interment will be at the Yonah Memorial Gardens, next to the funeral home. Rev. Dustin Epps will officiate the celebration of life.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., Saturday, January 21, 2023, at the funeral home prior to the service.
Pallbearers will be Lees’s childhood friends, brother, and nephew: Blair (Michelle) Chasen, Ken (Cheryl) Able, Chris (Kimmy) Hughes, Chris (Vanessa) Nantz, Doug Ledbetter, Brad (Ashley) Hayes,
Brady Hayes.
A very special “Thank You” to Dr. Andre Kallab and staff at Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic in Gainesville for their kind and tender loving care, to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Hospice nurses, for all their support, to Jowanna Webber for arranging the meal train and all the people who gave from their hearts. “Thank You” to everyone that made him smile, visited him, called or texted, and mostly lifted him up in prayer.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 KJV
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Faith Baptist Church, 2245 Walnut Street, White Pine, TN 37890.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
