Tributes

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019, William Alfred Haywood, Jr., loving husband and father of three, passed away in Hartsville, SC at the age of 77. Born August 31, 1941, in Moline, Illinois to William Alfred and Marjorie Eloise (Wardell) Haywood, his parents gave Bill a rich sense of humor and a strong Methodist belief, both of which sustained him throughout his life. Bill grew up with sisters Barbara and Susan and brother Robert. He enjoyed many family outings with his younger cousins, guiding them with his pearls of wisdom such as “Eat what you like, and plenty of it.” He loved music all his life, singing and traveling around the country with the Moline Boys Choir, then later providing a hearty bass for several church choirs and community chorales. He played piano, delighting his grandchildren with boogie-woogie riffs, tooted a tuba in school (complaining the funnel was always a target for popcorn from the crowd) and struggling to master bluegrass on his banjo. Graduating Moline High School in 1959, he went on to Millikin University, where he met Karen Sue Rinkema, his future wife. He graduated Millikin in 1963, then earned his MBA from the University of Iowa in 1968. Marrying in Springfield, Illinois, in 1964 during an ice storm, Bill and Karen would have celebrated 55 years this month. They had three daughters: Michele Haywood, MD (Jack Mitstifer, MD), Amy Haywood, JD, and Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) Haywood, PhD, (Michael Sullivan). Bill loved sports, growing up playing baseball and basketball, then becoming an enthusiastic golfer and runner, completing the Island Marathon. He loved the Iowa Hawkeyes, but he bled Cubbie Blue. A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, his beloved team finally won it all in 2016. Almost as good, Ernie Banks once cheered him on. While jogging in D.C., Bill ran past Mr. Cub, who shouted encouragingly “Keep it up!”. In 1981, he could not take the Midwest ice and snow any longer and moved to South Carolina to take a computer auditing position with Sonoco Products Company of Hartsville, where he would finish his career. (However, he never liked the heat. Or the snakes.) After retiring he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, choosing to be called DoDaddy: Jake and Cate Mitstifer, Elizabeth, Wes and Catherine Sullivan, and Beasley Haywood. A lifelong learner and avid reader, he particularly enjoyed history. He advocated for children as a Guardian ad Litem, recognized by the group as a role model by that system. He enjoyed beach trips, root beer challenges, Steak-n-Shake, and lots of butter. He traveled to all 50 states, even North Dakota. Both Bill and Karen provided a loving home for numerous rescue animals over the years, too many to list. Many furry friends will miss him. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, February 9, 2019, at St Luke’s Methodist Church, Hartsville, SC. Burial will be in Moline, IL, at the family plot at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Habitat of Humanity of Darlington County, Box 1432, Hartsville, SC 29551 or Darlington County Humane Society, Box 1655, Hartsville, SC 29551. Brown-Pennington-Atkins is serving the family.

Tributes

Mr. William Alfred Haywood Jr.

August 31, 1941 - February 5, 2019