Harold David Hayden
Harold David Hayden was born November 30, 1941 to Sam and Janie Reynolds Hayden, who predeceased him. David transitioned to his permanent home in Heaven on July 25, 2025 after a lengthy illness. He passed away at Sitter & Barfoot Veteran’s Care Center in Richmond, Virginia.
Survivors include his wife, Celia Garratt Gann Hayden (Toni) of Our Lady of Hope Health Center, Short Pump, Virginia; son, Jonathan Hayden of Cheboygan, Michigan; daughter, Rebecca Lopez of Quartz Hill, California; and son, Thomas Lee Gann (Beth) of Richmond, Virginia.
Also surviving are his sister and brother-by-marriage, Claudia and Dale Aaron of Burlington, North Carolina. David leaves behind six grandchildren, Carolyn Madgeryorie Lopez Baldry (James), Tamara Leigh-Ann Lopez Flynn (Michael), Kelsie Lynn Lopez, Janie Carolyn Hayden Benjamin (Kevin), Turaha Samuel David Hayden, and Thomas Hayden Gann (Katlyn); and six great-grandchildren, Gabriel David Hayden, Garrett Jonathan Hayden, Adrian Carl James Benjamin, Michael Franklin Flynn, IV, David Gregory Flynn, and Liam Roscoe Flynn.
David retired from the United States Air Force after 20 years of service, which included tours in Vietnam and Thailand during the Vietnam conflict. He also retired from Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Department after 20 years of service. For years he volunteered with the Callands Fire Department, often driving their rescue vehicle.
David was a man of many talents, and a very giving person, always willing to help friends and neighbors. He was well known for his ability to repair antique clocks, build clocks, and other carpentry projects. David loved his “gadgets”, loved fishing (especially with his buddy Tim Simpson). He loved animals of any kind, he usually had cats and dogs around him, and they loved him dearly. David also loved to grow things, for years he had lemon and lime trees in his basement all winter and in the backyard in the summer. He liked to experiment with growing things that are not found locally.
David loved his church, Hollywood Baptist Church and his many brothers and sisters in Christ. He assisted Toni when she taught a class of young adults. He and Toni traveled to Africa on a mission trip, and later David served on a trip to New Mexico. Many years David was a trustee for his church. He especially enjoyed cooking for the annual Sportsman Dinner.
A funeral service honoring David will be held Thursday, July 31, 2025, 1:00 p.m. at Hollywood Baptist Church, with Pastor Terry C. St. John officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. A visitation will be held prior to the funeral from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., also at Hollywood Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in David’s memory may be made to Hollywood Baptist Church, 6405 Callands Rd. Chatham, Virginia, 24531, Callands Volunteer Fire Department, 11741 Callands Rd. Callands, Virginia 24530, or Danville-Pittsylvania County Cancer Association, Inc. 223 Riverview Dr., Suite J, Danville, Virginia 24541.
Norris Funeral Services, Chatham Chapel is serving the family.
