Mildred A Hays (Johns)

Mildred Alma Johns Hays, 97, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 10, 2019, at Memory Lane in Van Buren. She was born on May 2, 1921, to John Willie and Bertie Farmer Johns. She grew up in rural Crawford County. Mildred attended Ouachita Baptist College where she earned an Arkansas Teaching Certificate. She taught school and coached girls basketball in Cedarville in the early 1940’s, and met and married Archie Theodore “Hank” Hays in 1942. They raised four children. At various times she worked along side her husband in the grocery business as well as teaching in Blytheville, Arkansas, and later was director of the Kindergarten/Preschool program for First Baptist Church in Van Buren for 6 years. After her husbands early death she became the general manager of Hays Foods until retirement in the early 90’s. In addition to her family and career, she was an active member of First Baptist Church, Van Buren, where she participated in Bible Study Fellowship, Women on Mission and served in many ways, teaching Sunday School and sponsoring youth trips.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Archie Hays, Sr., her son Archie “Ted” Hays, Jr., and by her grandson, Aaron Sweatman.
The funeral service will be Friday, March 15, at 10:00 AM at the First Baptist Church Chapel in Van Buren with burial at Gracelawn cemetary, also in Van Buren. Dr. Chris Johnson will officiate. The service is under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home.
The family extends an invitation for visitation on Thursday, March 14, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the First Baptist Church Chapel in Van Buren.
Mrs. Hays is survived by one brother, J. W. Johns, of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She is survived by her son David Hays of Dallas, Texas; two daughters: Martha and her husband, Dr. Michael Hurst; and Sarah and her husband, Dr. Kent Sweatman, all of Van Buren.
She is lovingly remembered by her grandsons and their families: Dr. Mark Hurst and his wife, Dusti, and their children, Jackson, Hayden, and Ethan; Nathan and his wife, Amber, and their children, Ashton and Hadlee; Van Buren Mayor Joe Hurst and his wife, Amanda, and their children, Eli and Kate, all of Van Buren; Adam Sweatman and his wife, Victoria, and their son Henry, of Iowa City, Iowa; and Andrew Sweatman and his wife, Allison, and their children, Beau and Rosie, of Sherwood, Arkansas.
Her grandsons and great grandson Jackson Hurst will serve as pallbearers. The Deacons of First Baptist Church, Van Buren, will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 1121 East Main Street, Van Buren, Arkansas.