Bettye Claire Hayes

Funeral service for Bettye Hayes will be held Monday, January 23, 2023, 12:00 PM at The Episcopal Church of the Mediator with the Rev. Morris Thompson, III, and Pastor Mason Kiple officiating. Burial to follow at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Newton, MS, at 2:00 PM. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.

Mrs. Bettye “Sweetie” Hayes, age 82, of Meridian, passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Bedford Care of Marion.

Bettye earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Mississippi State College for Women and taught fourth grade for 30 years. She was a member of The Episcopal Church of the Mediator since 1967. Bettye had a passion for flowers, birds, cooking, quilting, and traveling.

Survivors include her daughters, Kathryn Rene Welti (Jeff) of Meridian, MS, and Elizabeth Mapp (Bailey) of Tuscaloosa, AL; grandchildren, Joshua Massey (Dawn) of Denison, TX, Michael Massey (Lyndsey) of Katy, TX, Sarah-Kathryn Knudson (Matt) of Raleigh, NC, and Caroline Welti of Meridian, MS; as well as 7 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Lemuel Hayes; parents, Thomas Byrd “Pete” and Lillian Kathryn Kidd Everett; and brothers Douglas, Sydney, and Harper Everett.

Pallbearers will be Josh Massey, Michael Massey, Curt Pouncey, Brent Pouncey, Bilbo Mitchell, and Ed Owen.

Visitation will be held Sunday, January 22, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home.