Mr. William Augustus Hayward, Jr., 87, of Grenada, passed away Sunday, January 21, 2024 in Greenwood.  W.A. was born May 22, 1936 in Grenada to William Augustus, Sr. and Vera McCormick Hayward.  He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Science from Mississippi State University.  Mr. Hayward honorably served for 24 years in the Mississippi Army National Guard and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.  He was a founding member and deacon of Enon Baptist Church in Grenada.  W.A. owned and operated a farm operation for a number of years and later owned and operated several H&R Block franchises.  He will long be remembered for his sharp mind, quick wit and kind spirit.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, January 26, 2024 at Enon Baptist Church with Rev. Truman Scarborough, Rev. Lowell Ingram, Rev. Jerry Beam and Rev. Lynn Welch officiating.  Interment will follow in the Woodlawn Memorial Park.  The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until the hour of the service Friday at the church.

Survivors include his wife, Patsy Sykes Hayward; two sons, Whit Wheeler(Kristen) of Arlington, VA and West Wheeler(Melissa) of Grenada; sister, Margaret Russell(Darrell) of Oxford; and seven grandchildren, Ethan, Elijah, Joshua, Sarah & Jacob Wheeler and Zach & Eli Swartz.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Jerry Boyett, Roger Havens, Charlie Honea, Shane King, Dr. Richard Reid and Steven Russell will honor Mr. Hayward by serving as pallbearers and carry him to rest in the Hayward family plot at Woodlawn Memorial Park.  Jimmy Briscoe, Wayne Bush, J.A. Hoop, Bill Jones, Robert Kincaid, Jerry King, Shannon King, Dynamite Kirk, Kenton McGee, Woody McGee, Cotton Marter, Jackie O'Bannon, Larry Patton, Sam Pittman, Roy Sims, Mark Wolf and Dustin Worsham will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Memorials may be directed to Enon Baptist Church, 2604 Carrollton Road, Grenada, MS 38901.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada, ( 662-307-2694 ).