Thomas William Hayes, 59, of Ocilla passed away Friday, September 26, 2003, at Tift Regional Medical Center. His funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, September 29, 2003, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Glen Fussell and the Rev. Joe Wiggins officiating. Mr. Hayes was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Born December 13, 943, in Tift County, Mr. Hayes was the son of the late John Thomas Hayes and Marcelle Janie Hale Hayes. He was a truck driver; and he was a member of Midway Church of God in Irwin County. He was a veteran of the United States Navy.
Mr. Hayes is survived by his wife, Diane Hood Hayes of Ocilla; five sons, Tommy Steve Hayer and Mitch William Hayes, both of Brunswick, Dennis Benjamin Hayes of Kingsland, Joey Raiford Hancock of Florida and Billy Wayne Reeves of Tifton; two daughters, Tina Higginbotham of Macclenny, Florida and Jennifer Tawzer of Tifton; one brother, William Fogarty of Omega; two sisters, Ruth Horner of Enigma and Garland Webb of Tifton; 23 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.