Michael Lewis "Twanger" Hays, one of Tennessee's most respected Freedom Fighters, died of a heart attack at his home in Nolensville on Wednesday, November 14. Born in Pulaski, TN on June 17, 1955, to the late Doris Ellen Baker and Harold Dean Hughes, he was also preceded in death by his respected step-father, Dr. Freeman Cornelius Hays.
An avid motorcyclist, he was the State Legislative Corporate Director for CMT/ABATE, the state-wide motorcyclists' rights organization. He was a member of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, and recently lobbied on their behalf before the US Congress. Mr. Hays was sole proprietor of Midsouth Talent & Booking. Before moving to Nashville, he had been a radio announcer in Orange, Virginia; toured with his band, Mike Hays and the Haybailers; and had spent many years selling specialty audio equipment. He entered the US Navy in 1974, and at the time of his honorable discharge in 1978, was a singer and saxophonist in the Admiral's Band.
Mike is survived by one brother and three sisters, a daughter, two granddaughters and a grandson. He will also be deeply missed by his life partner, Carol, her three children and six grandchildren, by a true army of Brother & Sister Freedom Fighters, and by his many friends in the music industry.
After his funeral at Woodbine Hickory Chapel in Nashville, a procession led by the Patriot Guard took Mike's remains to Pulaski, where he was laid to rest with military honors next to his father and paternal grandparents.
Mike Hays was a man of faith, and had been close to the Methodist Church throughout his life.
Memorials may be made to CMT/ABATE, Mike Hays Freedom Fighter Fund, P.O. Box 160223, Nashville, TN 37216-0223.
[Extracted from the obituary published in The Tennessean (Nashville), November 17, 2007].
An avid motorcyclist, he was the State Legislative Corporate Director for CMT/ABATE, the state-wide motorcyclists' rights organization. He was a member of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, and recently lobbied on their behalf before the US Congress. Mr. Hays was sole proprietor of Midsouth Talent & Booking. Before moving to Nashville, he had been a radio announcer in Orange, Virginia; toured with his band, Mike Hays and the Haybailers; and had spent many years selling specialty audio equipment. He entered the US Navy in 1974, and at the time of his honorable discharge in 1978, was a singer and saxophonist in the Admiral's Band.
Mike is survived by one brother and three sisters, a daughter, two granddaughters and a grandson. He will also be deeply missed by his life partner, Carol, her three children and six grandchildren, by a true army of Brother & Sister Freedom Fighters, and by his many friends in the music industry.
After his funeral at Woodbine Hickory Chapel in Nashville, a procession led by the Patriot Guard took Mike's remains to Pulaski, where he was laid to rest with military honors next to his father and paternal grandparents.
Mike Hays was a man of faith, and had been close to the Methodist Church throughout his life.
Memorials may be made to CMT/ABATE, Mike Hays Freedom Fighter Fund, P.O. Box 160223, Nashville, TN 37216-0223.
[Extracted from the obituary published in The Tennessean (Nashville), November 17, 2007].
Michael Lewis "Twanger" Hays, one of Tennessee's most respected Freedom Fighters, died of a heart attack at his home in Nolensville on Wednesday, November 14. Born in Pulaski, TN on June 17, 1955, to the late Doris Ellen Baker and Harold Dean Hughes, he was also preceded in death by his respected step-father, Dr. Freeman Cornelius Hays.
An avid motorcyclist, he was the State Legislative Corporate Director for CMT/ABATE, the state-wide motorcyclists' rights organization. He was a member of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, and recently lobbied on their behalf before the US Congress. Mr. Hays was sole proprietor of Midsouth Talent & Booking. Before moving to Nashville, he had been a radio announcer in Orange, Virginia; toured with his band, Mike Hays and the Haybailers; and had spent many years selling specialty audio equipment. He entered the US Navy in 1974, and at the time of his honorable discharge in 1978, was a singer and saxophonist in the Admiral's Band.
Mike is survived by one brother and three sisters, a daughter, two granddaughters and a grandson. He will also be deeply missed by his life partner, Carol, her three children and six grandchildren, by a true army of Brother & Sister Freedom Fighters, and by his many friends in the music industry.
After his funeral at Woodbine Hickory Chapel in Nashville, a procession led by the Patriot Guard took Mike's remains to Pulaski, where he was laid to rest with military honors next to his father and paternal grandparents.
Mike Hays was a man of faith, and had been close to the Methodist Church throughout his life.
Memorials may be made to CMT/ABATE, Mike Hays Freedom Fighter Fund, P.O. Box 160223, Nashville, TN 37216-0223.
[Extracted from the obituary published in The Tennessean (Nashville), November 17, 2007].
An avid motorcyclist, he was the State Legislative Corporate Director for CMT/ABATE, the state-wide motorcyclists' rights organization. He was a member of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, and recently lobbied on their behalf before the US Congress. Mr. Hays was sole proprietor of Midsouth Talent & Booking. Before moving to Nashville, he had been a radio announcer in Orange, Virginia; toured with his band, Mike Hays and the Haybailers; and had spent many years selling specialty audio equipment. He entered the US Navy in 1974, and at the time of his honorable discharge in 1978, was a singer and saxophonist in the Admiral's Band.
Mike is survived by one brother and three sisters, a daughter, two granddaughters and a grandson. He will also be deeply missed by his life partner, Carol, her three children and six grandchildren, by a true army of Brother & Sister Freedom Fighters, and by his many friends in the music industry.
After his funeral at Woodbine Hickory Chapel in Nashville, a procession led by the Patriot Guard took Mike's remains to Pulaski, where he was laid to rest with military honors next to his father and paternal grandparents.
Mike Hays was a man of faith, and had been close to the Methodist Church throughout his life.
Memorials may be made to CMT/ABATE, Mike Hays Freedom Fighter Fund, P.O. Box 160223, Nashville, TN 37216-0223.
[Extracted from the obituary published in The Tennessean (Nashville), November 17, 2007].
Gravesite Details
Adopted by his step-father at age 6, his surname was legally changed from Hughes to Hays. He is buried with his natural father.
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