Grace Brinkley Hayes
December 12, 2024
CHARLOTTE – Grace Brinkley Hayes, 83, passed peacefully on Thursday, December 12, 2024. Born on April 1, 1941, Grace grew up in Suffolk, Virginia, the youngest of three daughters to Alton Lee Brinkley and Ethel Brinkley.
Grace was a 1959 graduate of Suffolk High School, afterwards attending college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where in 1963 she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. Upon graduating from college, she began her career as statistician at NASA (Virginia) and later worked as a programmer for Eastern Airlines (Charlotte).
A trailblazer at the time, there were very few females in that profession and Grace was one of only two female programmers hired at Eastern Airlines in Charlotte.
Shortly after moving to Charlotte, Grace met her future husband, Gordon Henry Hayes, Jr., while playing tennis with friends. Gordon and Grace married in 1967. After the birth of her first child, Grace paused her professional career to stay home and raise her children, Susan and Michael, and to give them the best childhood possible. When her children were off to college and working, Grace continued her career employed as an Administrator for the Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Charlotte until retirement.
Grace spent her adult life living split-time each year in Charlotte, North Carolina and Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Grace preferred spending her free time outdoors staying active and healthy, she would always say being outdoors was “refreshing”. She enjoyed playing tennis and spent ample time in her youth participating in competitive tournaments, feared by opponents for her signature slice forehand. Grace’s favorite place to reside was at the family beach house spending time on the water, particularly going on adventures to catch shrimp, clams, seashells and crabs. She also loved cleaning and cooking her seafood catches, and her family and friends loved her for that. Grace took pleasure in long conversations and going on long walks, whether on the beach or with her friends around the neighborhood. When not outdoors, Grace could be found challenging her analytical brain with puzzles, card games, computer spreadsheets, or watching UNC Tar Heel basketball. Grace had a kind, polite, and pleasing personality, where any time spent in the company of her family or friends was considered an enjoyable day. Her legacy will be the thoughtful, caring, selfless person she was to all her family, friends, and strangers, but most of all as a wonderful wife and proud mother.
Grace is survived by her husband of 57 years, Gordon Henry Hayes, Jr.; daughter, Susan Hayes Santos of Charlotte; son, Michael Gordon Hayes of Wilmington, NC; sisters, Rosalie Hoover of Colorado and Betty Hayward of Wisconsin; nephew, David Hayward, and nieces, Jane Hayward and Elizabeth St. Onge.
A service celebrating Grace’s life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Grace to Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 3307 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28226.
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.
Comments
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So sorry to hear about Grace, Barely knew her, but Gordon was my best friend in the navy, early 1950s. Wondered if he's still living.
Thank you very much. I live down not far from his Ocean Isle residence. -
Over 20+ years, Grace was a huge asset as Administrator of the Harvard Business School (HBS) Alumni Club of Charlotte. In about 2004, the Club started the Management Development Program (MDP). It is a mini-MBA program for 13 weeks every Monday night in the fall. Grace was there at the start and worked on this program (and the regular HBS alumni meetings) for about the next 15 years. For the MDP, she dedicated every Monday night for 13 weeks and much more time for prep, organizing and bookkeeping.. I am not sure if she ever missed a Monday night. And after 20 years, over $1 million from the tuition from this program has been donated to Charlotte area non-profits Grace was a critical part of this effort. We were so sorry to hear of her passing and she will be missed.
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Dear, sweet Grace we will miss you.
I was proud to call you friend and neighbor in Olde Providence, South Charlotte for over 30 years and after we moved from “the hood”.
We shared our love of playing tennis and the beach.
Grace was a loving wife to Gordon, mother to Michael and Susan, and to all of us in the “walking club”. She was a true light to all who knew her and will be missed. -
Grace's name fit her. Her relaxed and easy nature made spending time with Grace very enjoyable. Grace and Gordon tried to teach us John the knack of catching shrimp one weekend at Ocean Isle. Fortunately Grace and Gordon were old hands at shrimping and made up for our lack. Grace worked diligently at preparing a delicious shrimp dinner for us. We feel blessed to have know her and will miss her sweet smile.
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