Zadie Hailey Francis

Zadie Hailey Francis, 83, of Hurt passed away October 26, 2022. Zadie was born August 8, 1939 in Halifax County to the late Burley East Hailey Jones and Sam Hailey. Although Zadie had a Hurt address her life was about Altavista and always called it home even though she bought a house across the river. In recent years Zadie resided in Cumming, Georgia with her devoted caretakers, Ruby and Dean. Zadie leaves behind two daughters and sons-in-law, Ruby Diane and Dean Norman of Cumming, Georgia, Barbara Gayle and Kevin McGuffin, two granddaughters, Sara Diane and Anna Gayle McGuffin, all of Chesterfield, Virginia. Zadie is survived by three sisters, Dolly Danner of Richmond, Margaret Pauley of Colonial Heights, and Frances Simpson of Mechanicsville. She is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Naomi Hailey of Lynchburg, Linda Hailey of South Boston and Ingrid Hailey of Danville, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Zadie was predeceased by three sisters, Myrtle Epperson, Virginia McCullock, and Janie Childress, three brothers Roy S. Hailey, Dewey S. Hailey June 7, 2022, Richard S. Hailey August 31, 2022, and former husband and father of her daughters, Acie A. Francis October 28, 2020. She attended Aspen Elementary and Randolph Henry High School. In 1975 she received her GED after being out of school twenty years. Zadie retired from Abbott Labs in 1996 after more than 22 years. At one time she was a certified CNA, a certified Tax Preparer and had an Insurance License. Zadie loved doing genealogy and spent many hours doing research in cemeteries and courthouses. She wrote several stories that were published in Campbell, Charlotte, and Pittsylvania County Heritage Books. Zadie was a planner, a doer, a giver and a helper. She was the most loving grandparent, aunt, sister, daughter, and mom. If a relative or friend was in need, she was usually the first to arrive to help. She loved the outdoors, her plants, the deer and birds, Elvis and Conway. She loved trips and was all in, whether it was alone or with others. She visited many places from Boston to Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, Washington, Oregon and Canada. Until her illness, she kept the roads hot traveling to Richmond; Georgia and her local area visiting relatives and friends, and after her illness with her beloved, faithful chauffeur, Dean. She loved her granddaughters dearly. She was there for their births and didn't leave their side for months. As they grew, she was there for their dance and piano recitals, graduations, trips to museums and parks or sitting in the floor playing. She would often arrive in Richmond just in time to be standing at their bus stop. Whose eyes lit up the most? Visitation will be at Finch and Finch Chapel, Altavista, Saturday, November 12, 2022 at Noon, memorial service at 1 p.m. with burial following at Mount Carmel Methodist Church Cemetery, Brookneal in Charlotte County. For those wishing to make a memorial contribution, please consider a donation to Staunton River Memorial Library, 500 Washington St., Altavista, VA 24517.

Zadie Hailey Francis

August 8, 1939 - October 26, 2022