Maurice Percell Haynes, Sr. was born on December 1, 1938 in Moyock, NC and conducted his last train ride on Monday, June 8, 2020. He was the third son of five born to the late James Edward, Sr. and Ethel Smith Haynes.
He served in the Marine Corps Reserves while attending high school and he graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia in February 1957. After graduation, he served in the Air Force for four years. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Norfolk, VA and started working for Norfolk & Western Railroad, now Norfolk Southern in 1961. He retired from Norfolk Southern in December 1999 as a Yard Conductor. He served as the President of the United Transportation Union Local #48 for the Black Barney Yard Brakemen. He was an active participant in a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern for discrimination that was tried in the U.S. Supreme Court. While he was working full time for the railroad, he trained to be a barber and worked part time for over 20 years.
On Easter Sunday in 1947, he joined Shiloh Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia. He was a faithful member and loved to sing in the Choir. He was a member of the Adult (Senior) Choir, Mass Choir, and Men’s Chorus. He served as the President of the Adult Choir for more than 10 years. He was a member of the Hodges Bible Class. He also participated in the Tidewater Churchwide Institute. He was very active in the Tidewater Metro Baptist Laymen’s League and was a member of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention Men on Missions.
In the summer of 1962, he met Norma Jean Hill and they were married a year later in Harlem, NY on October 26, 1963. They had four children and made their home in Chesapeake, VA.
He leaves to cherish his loving wife of almost 57 years, Norma; two sons, Maurice, II and Kevin (Netta); two daughters, Eleanor Woodson (Anthony) and Emily Cooper (Brian); three brothers, Gilbert (Lelia), Melvin (Ouida), Hugh, Sr. (Mary); eight grandchildren, Bilal Washington, Jamal Washington, Kydria Haynes, Kevin Haynes, II, Nina Haynes, Amani Woodson, Aiden Haynes and Dillon Cooper; one great grandson, Blake Griffin, and numerous relatives and friends.
He will be missed by all.