Lionel Hayes

Lionel Hayes was born on October 8, 1946 to his proud parents Eddie and  Martha Hayes in Beaumont, Texas.  He was the sixth of eight children born to this union. 

As a child, Lionel had a great thirst for knowledge.  He had the distinction of being the only child in his class who never missed a day of school from elementary through high school.  He graduated in 1965 Magna Cum Lade with honors for scholastic achievement and citizenship from Hebert High in Beaumont.  Between 1965 and 1967, Lionel moved to San Francisco where he obtained an Associate Arts degree from City College and a Bachelors degree from San Francisco State.  He joined the military, and while serving in Germany he continued his education and earned a Masters degree from the University of Southern California (USC) in Education, while completing undergraduate studies in History and Math.

Lionel accepted Christ at a young age and served faithfully in his local church. While in San Francisco, he attended The Emanuel Church of God in Christ.  On Sunday he decided to attend the East Oakland Faith Center Church with friend, Missionary Simmonds, where he saw Ellen Marie King for the first time.  God told him ,“this is your wife.”  The following week he introduced himself.  When he came back the nextweek, she virtually ignored him.  But when he continued to pursued her and kept coming back, she started to notice and they fell in love.  By this time, Lionel was working at City Hall, and had just accepted a position as Consultant to the Governor of  California on Urban Affairs. The romance blossomed, and on February 3, 1973, Ellen and Lionel were united in marriage.  To his union was born one child, their precious son Lionel Terrell Hayes II.   For the next 44 years, they grew in faith and in their love for one another. They flourished  in the East Oakland Faith Deliverance Center, under the leadership of  Apostle, Bishop and Pastor Ray Mack.  Ellen was also blessed to serve in the San Francisco Christian Center for 28 years, under the leadership of Bishop Donald Green.  Since moving to Antioch, she currently attends New Birth Church, where Bishop Carl Smith is the Pastor. 

On Thursday, July 29 2017, Lionel Hayes departed this life and transitioned to his home in glory.  Six of his eight siblings preceded  him in death (Wilfred, Edward, Eddie, Ernest, and Lester.).

 Left to cherish his memory is:  his devoted wife, Ellen;  loving son, Terry; one sister, Edna Bell; one brother, Earl (wife Michelle); Sister-In-Law Valrie King-Green (Husband Jeff Green); Brother-In-Law John King (Sister-In-Law BrendaKing); the Lasso Family Adrianna (husband Antonio); Sister-In-Law Mary Helen Hayes, Beaumont TX; (Sister-In-Law Ernestine Hayes, Modesto CA; Sister-In-Law Shirley Hayes, Baton Rouge LA); Surviving Aunts and Uncles (Rosa Vivian Bassard, Claudia Bassard, a special Niece, Carlean Mitchell; (daughter  Cortesia); and a Host of Niece, Nephews, Grand-Niece, Grand-nephews, and other relative and friends.

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