Barbara Louise Hayes

Barbara Louise Baker Hayes, age 72, passed away February 16, 2024 at 11:33 a.m. at the Community Hospice Bailey Center for Caring in St. Augustine, Florida from Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Barbara was born July 6, 1951 to Norman Henderson Baker and Jane Wilson Baker in Syracuse, NY. She grew up in Lawrence Township, New Jersey and moved to Columbus OH in 1962. She was an outstanding flutist and performed a concerto with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra while in high school. Barbara graduated from The Ohio State University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. Barbara was a band teacher in the Parma OH schools before moving to Charleston, SC., where she played in the harp/flute duo “A Touch of Class” with her dear friend Margaret Weymann Atkinson. Barbara relocated to St. Augustine Florida, was involved in selling commercial care products for the home and raised three children. She worked in the home health-care industry and helped found We Care Companions, LLC, with her friend and colleague Robin Van Duzen. She had many meaningful relationships with both clients and caregivers. A woman of deep faith, Barbara was a member of Good News Church in St. Augustine. Her friends say that Barbara ministered to them and nurtured those who were invisible to others. She had great empathy for those who were elderly or infirm or struggling with life’s challenges. Barbara’s church friends in turn became family to her, supporting her “as sisters and brothers in her walk of faith,” and providing help during her illness with such things as transportation to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sons, Martin Jonathan Hayes and Dr. Joshua Daniel Hayes (Cara) and daughter, Rebecca Deborah Joy Hayes; grandchildren, Michael Joseph, Elijah Daniel and Elisabeth Kay-Louise Hayes; Hunter, Harley, and Haley Hayes; sister Janice Marie Baker Cook (S. Ronald Cook) and brother, Donald William Baker (Jan Sarrett Baker); cousins; treasured friends; and ex-husband, James D. Hayes, Jr., MD. The family wishes to thank the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, the Community Hospice Bailey Family Center for Caring, and Rebecca Hayes for the loving care she gave her mother during her illness. The family also wishes to thank Barbara’s friends and pastors from Good News Church. A celebration of life will be held at 2pm on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Good News Church, 1357 Wildwood Drive, St. Augustine, 32086 with a reception to follow. Those unable to attend can watch the service live streamed at: https://www.goodnewsloves.com/ww-live Arrangements by St. John’s Family Funeral Home

Barbara Louise Hayes

July 6, 1951 - February 16, 2024