Rev. James Earnest (Jim) Hayes Jr. was born to Dr. James
Earnest and Vesta Lee (nee Ready) Hayes on August 1, 1946.
On September 19, 1976, Jim wed (Delores) Dianne Boggan in
Meridian, Mississippi. They have three children: Dorothy
Lee, James Mark, and Neil Boggan.
Rev. Hayes received a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia
Military Institute in 1967, after which he did graduate
work at Memphis State University (in 1968 and 1969) before
enrolling in Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson,
Mississippi, from which he was awarded a Master of Divinity
in 1985. Rev. Hayes also began work toward a Doctor of
Ministry degree from RTS.
Prior to ordination, Rev. Hayes served as Youth Director
and Student Pastoral Assistant for Mt. Salus Church in
Clinton, MS, from 1983-1985. Rev. Hayes was ordained on
August 4, 1985 by the Southern Florida Presbytery of the
Presbyterian Church in America as Associate Pastor of Old
Cutler Presbyterian Church, Miami, FL. After that, he
served as Interim Pastor of Pinelands Presbyterian Church
in Miami (1988-1989), and Pastor of Northside Presbyterian
Church, Sherwood, Arkansas (1989-1991).
Rev. Hayes then served as Chaplain of Haywood Methodist
Hospital of Brownsville, TN (1994-2007); Park General
Hospital of Brownsville, TN (1994-2007); and Hillhaven
Nursing Home, Ripley, TN (1994-2007). In 1998, Rev. Hayes
became the Pastor of Hickory Withe Presbyterian Church,
serving for the next nine years.
Rev. Hayes left HWPC in February 2007. He now lives in
Warner Robins, Georgia, where he teaches Biology at Georgia
Military College.