Winnie Haywood

The Lord blessed Melvin and Narcissus Reese Kanada with a bouncing baby girl on Monday, November 2, 1936 in the community of Sayersville, Texas (Sayers). She was greeted by two older siblings. They lived on the historical African American property known as the Bucking Hill.  The family owned the infamous “Café on Bucking Hill.”

Winnie thrived as a young athlete in the community, which later became an asset in basketball and track when she attended Emile High School in Bastrop. She shared chores with her five siblings, which includes household upkeep, cooking and canning vegetables/fruits on the family farm which is still owned today. Her family was the first to own a car in the community.

She was baptized at early age and united with the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Sayersville.  Her religious journey included association with the Macedonia First Baptist Church, Friendship Bible Baptist Church, Zion Chapel Baptist Church, where she became a member and lastly, Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church, all of Bastrop.

She met and married Ruben Haywood on August 31, 1953.  This union was blessed with eight children.

Her work history included housekeeping in Austin and later she provided excellent child care services for neighborhood families as well as for her family. Ms. Winnie provided extra care for the grandchildren, so her children could work. She was a very neat housekeeper. Everything had it place plus she was a GREAT cook and she loved to shop.

She supported her children in all school events. The children could always count on her presence. She was an avid sport fan. Her number one priority for the children was to know and acknowledge God. Then, she emphasized education as a key factor to success.

Life continued with a blissful, heartwarming and lasting relationship with her Long Life Companion, Arthur Waites until his death in August 2013.

On June 26, 2018 Ms. Winnie’s life journey ended.  She is preceded by her parents, siblings, Dorothy Kanada, Melvin Kanada Jr., and Great Grandchild Darnell B. Haywood.

Her memories are cherish by: Children Ronnie Haywood, Sr., (wife, Marilyn), Ivis Haywood, Ruben Haywood Jr., Larry Haywood, Sr., (wife, Lettie), Wanda “Katie” Haywood (husband, Larry), Michael Haywood, Sr., (wife, Caroline), Sully Haywood, Sr., and Linda Moore (husband, Curtis); 24 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren; three great great-grandchildren. Her siblings are: Ruby Kanada, Bobbie Kellough, James Kanada (wife, Marjorie), Ella Wilson. Other family members include sister in-law, Lily Calton (husband, Edwin) and brother in-law, Louis Thomas with a host of extended family members.

Visitation will be at All Faiths of the Pines Funeral Home, Thursday, July 5, from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM.

Funeral services will be on Friday, July 6, 1:00 PM at the Providence Primitive Baptist Tabernacle, 120 N. Gaines St., Cedar Creek, Texas.

Interment will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Bastrop, Texas.