Virginia May Williams Hayes, born 84 years ago in Downsville, and passed away peacefully Sept. 10, 2021 in Raleigh, N.C. with her family by her side.
Ginny graduated from Downsville Central School in 1955 and was married in St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in 1957 with Father Ray L. Donohue officiating. She lived in Rochester for 50 years, returning often to Downsville to see her parents, Grace and Sherald Williams, formerly of Knox Avenue. She loved nothing more than rocking on the front porch, eating her mom’s famous cinnamon buns, enjoying the Catskills country air, and visiting with her family.
Ginny was a stay-at-home mom, later an administrative assistant, a jack of all trades around the house, volunteer, and a devoted mother and grandmother who never missed a soccer or tennis match or ballet performance. She was thoughtful, reliable, sincere, hard-working, a good listener, fun, always early, made fabulous roast beef gravy, and had a great loyalty to and love for her family and friends.
She leaves her children Tim (and Tricia) Hayes of LeRoy, Tammy (and Bruce) Burnett of Raleigh, N.C.; grandchildren Eric and Daniel Hayes and Ashley and Ryan Burnett, and great-granddaughter Ayvah Hayes; a sister Sharon Dickinson, niece Janet Burgess, cousins Germaine (Ronny) Hayden, Linda Northrup, extended family, and dear friends.
A memorial service will be held on Oct. 23, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, Downsville, followed by being laid to rest at Paige Cemetery aside her beloved parents and her husband of 51 years, Donald Hayes. All are welcome to join the family for lunch after at the Schoolhouse Inn, Main Street, Downsville.
In lieu of flowers Ginny would wish for you to do something nice for yourself and think of her.
