The funeral service for Mr. Dempsey Joe Hayes will be 3 p.m., Wednesday, September 4, at Riverwood Family, with burial in Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation is from 1 p.m. until the time of service.

Mr. Hayes, 78, of Brookhaven, died August 30, 2024, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven. He was born March 24, 1946, to Rufus Joseph W. Hayes and Mattie Pearl Givens Hayes.

Mr. Hayes was retired from Oddee Smith & Sons Construction where he worked as Foreman. He enjoyed gardening and spending time with his family. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Dempsey Joe Hayes, Jr.; and sisters, Nita “Mickey” Russell and Barbara Munn.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 years, Delilah Hayes; children, Kimberly McCoy (Doug) and Karen Gilham (Tom); brother, Edward Hayes; sister, Nell Baham; seven grandchildren, Kaitlyn Biddle, Kristen Crane, Thomas Gilham, Bradley McCoy, Joe Garrett Gilham, Kathryn McCoy, Brooke Allen; and six great grandchildren, Simon Biddle, Shawn Biddle, Ellie Crane, Tommy Gilham, Jack Crane, Soren Biddle. He is also survived by other loving family members and friends.

The Hayes family would like to extend a special thank you to King’s Daughters Medical Center Emergency Room for their exquisite care of Mr. Hayes during his stay with them.