69 year-old murder victim laid to rest

A funeral was held this morning for an elderly Florence woman that police said was brutally murdered.

When 69 year-old Willie Mae Hayes did not show up for work Monday morning police began searching.

Her body was found Wednesday morning on Malloy Street in Florence, not too far from her Liberty Street home.   

Four young men are charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery—David Johnson and Rashawn Bailey along with two 14 year-olds.

Hundreds of Hayes’ family and friends gathered at the Monumental Baptist Church Florence.

She sang on the choir and was a member of that church for more than 30 years.

Hayes was also a life-long member of the North Florence community; there she raised her two children.

Friends said she loved her community, church, and family.

“She’s a loving person. She’d do anything for you. She’d give you the shirt off of her back if she could. I’ve never seen her with a frown on her face. She’s always had that warm smile, anything you’d ask her to do she’d do it for you,“ Elizabeth Brockington, Monumental Baptist Church member and close friend, said.

Following Hayes’ funeral, she was buried at the garden of rest in Darlington.