Mr. Billy Ray Haynes

His Journey: Billy Ray Haynes was the fourth child of seven born on May 15, 1950 to the union of Jimmie and Mattie B. Haynes in McKenzie, TN. In 1965, his family relocated to Toledo, OH and in 1968 he graduated from Scott High School. He went on to graduate from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Arts in History. During his time at Bowling Green he met Gwendolyn Hunt whom he later married in Toledo, OH on August 30, 1975. To their union three girls were born, Kamilah Oni, Jamila Devoki and Shani Aisha. They made their home in Detroit, MI in 1979. Billy was diligent in his work and passionate about providing for his family. In the beginning of his working career he excelled as a salesman for various companies such as Kroger, Johnson Products and the most memorable of them all, Sunshine Biscuits. He always had a box of cookies or crackers to share with his family, friends and even the neighbors would come by asking him for any leftovers. He was always generous and always charitable. The second half of his career revolved around children. He assisted his late wife Gwen, in running Haynes' Tender Loving Care Day Care where he was affectionately known by the kids as "Uncle Billy." He also worked for the Boys & Girls Republic and the Lutheran Child & Family Services of Michigan. God was a part of Billy's life from a young age and it was evident in the love he had for his family. He enjoyed any amount of time he got to spend with his family. He enjoyed telling stories of his childhood and growing up with his brothers and sisters. Whenever they were together there were plenty of laughs to go around. He was always ready to give a history lesson about his family. He felt knowing where you came from was important. He always stressed to his daughters about taking care of those you truly love and cherish. He didn't just talk about it, he lived it. He especially loved his grandson Camren, whom he affectionately called "the Boy" and "my shadow." You always felt the love he had for you and it was always evident in his conversation and the way he treated you. He never met a stranger. His love for music of any kind was so great that he had a huge collection of vinyl records that showed how vast his taste was. Not only did he like to listen to and explore music, he loved to sing. On any given day, you could hear his big booming baritone throughout his home. In fact, it was this same booming baritone that captured the heart of his wife during high school, long before he met her. He was a faithful member of People's Community Church where he was a soloist in both the Chancel and Men's Choir. He would often bring his three girls to choir practice helping to cultivate and appreciate the love of music. In the home, music was an integral part of every happening, from cooking, cleaning, sharing a meal, any holiday, sitting around talking, and taking road trips. His life revolved around music. He loved sharing his gift wherever he went, singing and bringing joy to anyone who met him.

Mr. Billy Ray Haynes

May 15, 1950 - September 27, 2013