John Edward Hayes

John Edward Hayes, 72, of Thomasville, North Carolina passed away on September 8, 2026, after a courageous and hard-fought battle with liver cancer.

He was born on January 5, 1954, in High Point to James Richard “Dick” Hayes Sr. and Helen “Jackie” Howard. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a minor in Spanish. He was an eighteen-time gold medal Senior Olympian and took silver for the entire state in 2019. He married Renee Hayes in 2002, and altogether they spent over 25 beautiful years together.

He will be remembered for his calm, loving personality and wonderful sense of humor. He had a love of Redskins football, ketchup, penguins, ping-pong and swimming. He was a member of Cedar Lodge Baptist Church for 35 years where he held many positions serving the church, including serving as a deacon and a bass soloist in the choir. He was a part of the Baptist Men’s Association, serving as a translator during disaster recovery mission trips to Central America.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Renee Hayes; 3 beautiful children, Ashley Hayes, Kayla (Chuck) Hulin, John Edward Hayes II and 3 stepchildren Edward Dewayne Suggs, Mandy (Rohan Mandadi) Sorge and Rebecca Sorge; 6 grandchildren Ridley and Vera Suggs, Layla and Leena Mandadi, and Alec and Elin Hulin; his loving sister, Suzanne Hayes (Chris) Stephens; and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by his mother, father and his brother James “Jimmy” Hayes.

A memorial/celebration of life will be held at 2pm on Saturday, September 12 at Cedar Lodge Baptist Church in Thomasville.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Alderwood of Davidson County (formerly Hospice), Cedar Lodge Baptist Church or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Wright Funerals-Cremations, High Point is in charge of arrangements.