Obituary

Faye Evelyn Payne was born on December 29, 1934, to the proud parents of Rosia and Isaac Payne in Bernice, Louisiana. She was the fifth of six children. She grew up on a 300-acre farm where they grew cotton, corn, and sugar cane and raised chickens and hogs. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Allen, Thaddeus, Theonis, and Clarence, and her only sister, Betty. Faye was a gifted athlete and played guard for her high school basketball team at Bernice High School. This love for sports persisted throughout her lifetime and manifested itself in multiple ways. She was also a gifted student, always excelling in her academic studies. She had a lifelong commitment to helping others, and these passions manifested in the professions she pursued as an adult: nursing and education. After graduating with honors from Bernice High School, she attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and obtained her degree in nursing. It was during this time that she met and married Ceola Bryant Jr., also of Bernice, Louisiana. 

Like so many others from the South, Faye and Ceola imagined a brighter future to the West and moved to San Diego, California in 1955. After arriving, starting thriving careers and purchasing a home, three children were born to this union:  Bernard Wayne Bryant, Michael David Bryant, and Felecia Renee Bryant. Professionally, Faye applied her medical skills by securing a position as an RN at Scripps Memorial Hospital, one of a few African Americans hired in this capacity. She worked as a nurse for several years but as her children grew older, she opted to remain at home and care for them. 

Faye always had a steadfast belief in the Lord and joined the church family at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in 1955, where she has remained a loyal member, leader, teacher, and faithful servant for almost 70 years. During her tenure at Mt. Zion, she sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, led many councils and committees, and faithfully tithed as God had commanded, even until her passing. She loved Mt. Zion, and that love was only exceeded by her love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Faye was a shining example of perseverance and resilience. After parting her first marriage, she decided to rejoin the workforce. She contemplated returning to nursing but her love for her children had fostered a passion for education and prompted her to pursue a different path. She became a teacher’s aide at Sherman Elementary School and while working full time and supporting her three children she attended San Diego City College and earned a degree in Early Childhood Development graduating with honors and a 4.0 GPA. It was at Sherman Elementary School that she met Columbus Hayslett and in 1970 she and Columbus were wed and to this Union was born a son, Alexander Hayslett. Columbus preceded her in death in 2002. Faye went on to teach in the San Diego Unified School District for almost 20 years, inspiring young minds to embrace education and always seek to be their best. 

Faye had so many passions. One of them was sports. As an athlete herself she reveled in supporting her children in their athletic pursuits. She made banners for her youngest son as he led the San Diego High School Football team as quarterback and was a vocal cheerleader at Bernard and Michael’s football games. She was a visible and vocal presence for her daughter Felecia at her softball games and track competitions. When it came to professional sports, she was an avid Charger and Padre fan and often shared her excitement with her husband Columbus while either watching games on television or attending games in person. She loved sharing a game with one of her sisters in Christ, Sister Elizabeth King as they both cheered on the Los Angeles Lakers, and she grew to love tennis and would often call to make sure her children were watching Venus or Serena Williams in one of the Grand Slam tournaments.

She was a gifted seamstress, skills that came in handy early in her adult life as a single parent raising and supporting three and later four children. By day she worked and each night she came home and prepared meals for her children, read to them before each went to bed, kneeled, and prayed with them before they went to sleep and prepared breakfast the next morning while preparing their lunches and got them off to school before beginning another workday. 

Her children were the apple of her eye. She was a strict disciplinarian and demanded that her children always be respectful, kind, and generous, characteristics she always modeled. Whatever her children did, she was there in support. Her children introduced her to the dramatic arts. She was there when son Michael played the lead in the school play: “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown,” applauded loudly when her daughter Felecia starred in “Guys and Dolls,” traveled with Michael as he recited his idol, Martin Luther King’s famous speech: “I Have a Dream,” and listened with pride as Alex traveled to churches reciting “Daniel in the Lion’s Den.” As her children grew older, she was a steadfast supporter as they navigated both the challenges and the rewards of adult life, never wavering in her support of each of them no matter what the circumstance, and always willing to offer wise counsel anchored in the word of the Lord. 

She was also a gifted Chef. Wow, could she cook and that “hot water cornbread” would melt in your mouth and paired nicely with those smothered collard greens or black-eyed peas, not to mention the coffee-soaked pot roast that just melted in your mouth. Her pecan and sweet potato pies were legendary and the “Sock It to Me,” Pineapple Upside Down, and German Chocolate cakes were mouthwatering. There was always enough food for a guest, a friend or relative. Her home and her kitchen were always open, and she loved to serve others, especially their stomachs!

God graced us all with Faye Hayslett for over 88 years. During the final years of her life Lewy Body Dementia undermined her physical abilities but not her spirit or will. She peacefully transitioned to be with our Lord at 1:15 am on September 2, 2023. She passed while listening to gospel music and as the vocalist finished her song, she inaudibly mouthed the final words of the song, took two last breaths and the angels took her home to be with God. She leaves behind her four children, Bernard, Michael, Felecia, and Alexander, a daughter-in-law, Chanda; eight grandchildren:  Cierra, Bianca, Quinci, Tallulah, Alexander Jr., Tatiana, Taniqua, and Alex Emmanuel; five great grandchildren:  Xzavier, Ariah, Huntley, Tania, and Tayvon, and countless other family members, both biologic and chosen as well as friends to not only mourn her loss, but more importantly celebrate the amazing life she lived and the extraordinary example she was.