Nelson Hayes

Mr. Nelson Edward Hayes, age 75, of Matthews, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at Novant Presbyterian Hospital - Matthews, surrounded by his two loving daughters. Mr. Hayes was born on November 28, 1940, in Gastonia, North Carolina, a son of the late Robert Lee Hayes and Lena Viola Lee Hayes. Nelson was a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) at Davis Funeral Service in Monroe; a former Manufacturer's Sales Representative for North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia with Pierce Chemicals Royal Bond Company of Dallas, Texas. He was also a Former Chairman and Secretary of the North American Division of the British Institute of Embalmers (BIE), and member of the American Society of Embalmers. Nelson was a graduate of Gaston County Schools, High Point University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and a Summa Cum Laude Graduate of the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science, class of 1970. There are numerous professional designations, NC Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, two-term elected member of the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service, Past Director of District #9 NCFDA, Past President of Belmont Rotary Club, Past President of the Belmont United Way, Past President of the Belmont Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the Sacred Heart College Board of Visitors in Belmont, former member of the Salisbury Rotary Breakfast Club and a high school biology teacher. There are also fraternal memberships, such as Member of Belmont Lodge #627 AF & AM, Past President of Virginia Funeral Supply Sales Association, Member of West Virginia Sales Association, Past President of North Carolina Sales Association, Member of Mu Sigma Alpha, National Mortuary Honor Society, and was selected to appear in the 1973 edition of Outstanding Young Men Of America. Nelson was an accomplished organist, having served numerous churches, such as Love Memorial Baptist Church of Gastonia, First Baptist Church of Belmont, First Baptist Church of Gastonia, Providence Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, Second Presbyterian of Salisbury, St. Marks Lutheran of Charlotte and many many more. Survivors include his two daughters, Dr. Holly Jennifer Hayes Robbins of Christiansburg, VA and Heather Catherine Hayes Ferguson of Monroe, NC; mother of the daughters, Vicki Smith Lemons; two grandchildren, Anya Zoe Robbins of Christiansburg, VA and Aedan Edward Ferguson of Monroe, NC; a brother, Raymond Douglas Hayes and wife Clara. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Morning Star Lutheran Church, Music Ministry Organ Fund, 12509 Idlewild Road, Matthews, North Carolina, 28105. Davis Funeral Home of Monroe is honored to serve the Hayes family. An on-line guest register book is available at www.davisfuneralservice.com.