Aaron Hailey

Funeral services to celebrate the life of James Aaron Hailey, 89, will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, April 15, 2010 in the sanctuary of Englewood Baptist Church with Rev. Ben Mandrell, Dr. Philip Jett and Rev. Paul Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Ridgecrest Cemetery. Mr. Hailey died on Monday, April 12, 2010 at the Northbrooke Healthcare Facility of Jackson. Arrington Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.A native of Mercer, TN, he was born on August 4, 1920, the son of the late Millard S. and Mary Jane Lewis Hailey. He attended J. B. Young High School in Bemis, TN and married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Naomi Weaver, on June 26, 1943. They were married 65 years. A few days after they were married, Aaron was mobilized for service during World War II and landed on Normandy Beach on D-Day + 6. He spent the following two and ½ years serving in battles throughout Northern Europe until the end of the War and was honorably discharged in late 1945. While serving, Staff Sergeant Hailey received two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. Aaron and Naomi began attending Englewood Baptist Church when it was a mission in 1945 and were charter members when Englewood was organized in 1950. His love and commitment to God and Englewood inspired him to serve in several positions including Deacon and Training Union Director. In the 1950?s Aaron was employed at the Milan Arsenal under P & G as a carpenter. He was employed at First Baptist Church of Jackson as the Building and Maintenance Superintendent and later was employed with the Madison County School System as a teacher at Southside High School, teaching general building and trades retiring in 1985. After his retirement from the school system he served as the Building and Maintenance Superintendent at Englewood Baptist Church. He was a home builder and cabinet maker and made furniture for his family. One of the last gifts to his children and grandchildren was a rocking baby cradle. ?Granddaddy?, as he was affectionately known by his family, lived a life full of love, commitment, and caring for his family and will be dearly missed by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is survived by his daughter, Jamie Joyner of Jackson; a son, Dennis Hailey of Jackson; six grandchildren, Jennifer Goehring and husband Kirk, Stephanie Joyner, Dana Hailey, Sarah Vos and husband Tom, Mary Frances Hailey and Aaron Hailey and four great grandchildren, Alyssa Goehring, Amelia Goehring, Caleb Vos and Zac Vos.He was preceded in death by three brothers, Lois Hailey, Frank Hailey and Oren Hailey and two sisters, Audell England and Willie Mae Blackwell.He will also be missed by the Dirty Dozen, a close group of friends who shared many happy times together over the last 30+ years.Pallbearers to serve will be Carl Long, William Giles, Bill Lasley, Ronnie Lasley, Greg Lasley, Cecil Hillhouse and Ken Beachman.The family wishes to thank Northbrooke Healthcare Facility for their kindness and professional care provided by the staff, nurses and aids, with a special thanks going to Donna, Sondra, Mary, and Stephanie.The family also wishes to thank Tennessee Quality Hospice employees, Brenda, Christy, Scott, Terri, and Dr. Jere Hammond for their many hours of comfort and compassionate care.The family will be receiving friends on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Arrington Funeral Directors and on Thursday, April 15, 2010 from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM in the Jett Fellowship Center at Englewood Baptist Church.