Bobby Jean Smith Hayes was born in Dillon, S.C., in the Dillon House to her parents Austin Smith and Berline Stone Smith.
On August 18, 1956, Bobby married Terry Eugene Hayes of Lake View, S.C. and they proceeded to travel the world.
Bobby spoke, even into her last days, that she would have never imagined as a young girl that she would have had the opportunities that she had to see the United States and the world.
Bobby and Terry lived in Goldsboro, N.C.; Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Perth, Australia; Tokyo, Japan; Riverside, California; Plattsburgh, New York; Little Rock, Arkansas; Dillon, S.C.; Augusta, Georgia; Myrtle Beach, S.C., and found their final home in Crestview, Florida.
Even through all the places that they set up their home, they always felt that Dillon County, S.C. was their true home.
When Bobby was preceded in death by Terry in 2016, she took him back to Kemper Baptist Church to be buried; ironically in the same area that he had spent many years as a boy playing behind the Kemper School.
Bobby’s remains will also find the final resting place beside Terry in that playground now turned cemetery.
A funeral service will be Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Kemper Baptist Church with burial to follow at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Cooke Funeral Home of Lake View, and also at 10:00 on Wednesday at the church before the funeral service.
Bobby and Terry found joy in everything they did together and with their two children, son Terry Jr. “Gene” and daughter, Linda. The children increased their joys in their travels of the country, but added even more when they married and had their own children.
Terry Jr. is married to Kelly (Ellis) and their son Terry III “Trey” is married to Whitney (Buckelew). Trey and Whitney have three children, Hudson (6), Molly Kate (5), and Hadley (2). Linda is married to Allen Anderson and they have two sons, Allen Jr. “A.J.” and Bradley. Bradley has a daughter, Ellie (4). Bobby, “Nana” loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren until the very end. She loved being with all of them, and found joy in their presence, but even more, they found joy in her presence.
Bobby was a beautiful woman inside and out. She loved the Lord and her family. Bobby was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Terry, her grand-daughter Erin (Terry and Kelly), brother’s-in-law Larry Hayes and Rand Hayes, and most recently her sister, Elaine Gross. Other remaining family, including her brother Floyd “Tee” Smith; brother’s and sister’s –in-law Boyd Gross, Jerry Hayes and Diane, Ernest Hayes and Carolyn, Rita Enzor, Deane Dean, Lois Hayes; nieces and nephews in Michigan, North Carolina, and South Carolina will also miss Bobby.
Bobby will be missed but loved forever.