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In the 1930 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farm laborer James Hays, 23; wife Lula M., 21, a schoolteacher; and sons Maris, 5, and Royland, 3.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 112 South Fourth Street, fish peddler James Hayes, 40; wife Lula, 39; sons Morris, 14, and Roland, 13.

Maurice Branch Hayes and Roland Esmon Hayes registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County as they reached their 18th birthdays. Both identified their mother Lula M. Hayes of 903 Viola Street as their contact person. Maurice worked as a busboy at Cherry Hotel and Roland at O’Brien Factory during tobacco season.

In the 1950 census of Cedar Creek township, Cumberland County, N.C.: Marice Hayes, 24, elementary school principal, lodger in household of Joe and Maud McMillan.

On 19 August 1951, Maurice B. Hayes, 26, of Wilson, son of James and Lula Hayes, married Hazel McDonald, 20, of Fayetteville, N.C., daughter of Hector and Callie McDonald.

Centennial Bronco yearbook, Fayetteville State University, 1977.

Per Rev. Dr. Hayes’ obituary:

“The Rev. Hayes was born May 12, 1925, in Wilson to the late James Hayes and Lula Mae Hayes. He was the former pastor of Baptist Union Missionary Baptist Church and was also a former principal in Hoke County and a professor at Fayetteville State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Fayetteville State Teachers College, a master’s degree from New York University and a doctorate degree from North Carolina State University. He was also a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and served in the Navy, where he received an honorable discharge in August 1945.”

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.