Agnes W Haynes

The Obituary Agnes, the oldest child of Raymond and Byrdella F. Washington and a proud Creole, was born August 31, 1940, in Mamou, Louisiana.  Her faith was nurtured at the New Zion Baptist Church in Eunice, Louisiana, then pastored by Dr. Joshua Galen Frank, Sr.  There, she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, was baptized at 10 years of age, and began service as a deaconess when she was 19 years old.   Agnes graduated from Charles Drew High School in Eunice, Louisiana.  In 1959, she pledged Delta Sigma Theta at Grambling State University where she earned the Bachelor of Arts, English degree.  Agnes married Rev. Aaron B. Thomas on July 30, 1960; a daughter, Deirdre Denise, was born to them.  After the marriage imploded, she and Denise moved to East Palo Alto, California, in May 1977.  She soon united with the Mount Olive Baptist Church family where she faithfully served as a Deaconess and New Members Ministry Teacher.   She married her soulmate and the love of her life, Deacon Willie Haynes, on March 8, 1980, and enjoyed a beautiful partnership with him until his passing, nearly 35 years later.  In August 1982, the family united with the Jerusalem Baptist Church family under the leadership of Pastor Emil Thomas.  At Jerusalem, Agnes worked in numerous capacities, most notably developing the curriculum for New Members’ Ministry and serving as New Members Ministry Teacher, College and Career Class Sunday School Teacher, and a member of the Diaconate; she was officially ordained a Deacon in November 1999.  She loved and was faithful in Women’s Ministry.  In December 2009, after much prayer, she and Willie joined the Mt. Zion Baptist Church family where she served faithfully as Director of Deaconess and Mothers Ministry, a New Members’ Ministry Teacher, and an Adult Sunday School Teacher.  Agnes believed one should steadfastly prepare to do God’s work.  She loved the Lord and never tired of studying His Word.  She was a past President of the Bay Area Baptist District Women’s Auxiliary, the Palo Alto/Menlo Park  Chapter of Church Women United, and the California State Baptist Convention’s Women’s Auxiliary.  She was the immediate past West Region Vice-President of the National Baptist Convention’s Woman Auxiliary, a 25- year writer of devotionals and study lessons for  The Mission, the official, quarterly Study Guide of the Woman’s Auxiliary, and a past Coordinator of the Auxiliary’s official evangelistic support, The Women In White March. She earned the Master of Educational Administration degree from San Francisco State University in 1995 and continued post-graduate study until she was two classes shy of a doctorate degree.  Her career in education spanned nearly 44 years; she was a well-respected teacher par excellence.    She retired from Walters Junior High School, Fremont, California, after serving as an English and Drama teacher and Vice Principal.  She genuinely cared about her students and was passionately committed to ensuring a classroom environment that remained conducive to learning.  She was a strong proponent of excellence in education whose foundational instruction led a great number of her students to score in the upper 90th percentile when tested.   Agnes adored her daughter, Denise, and the deeply loving relationship they shared.  She genuinely loved her  family and being Nanny Agnes, a great-great-great aunt.  She was a great lover of people and well respected in her community.  She opened her heart and made herself available when needed. Almighty God, in His Infinite Wisdom, summoned Agnes to the appointment that all must keep and transported her to the land that is older than Eden on Thursday, August 7, 2025.   Left to bask in the rays of her love and cherish her memory and legacy are her  loving daughter, Denise; a brother, Rev. Lavern Washington, Sr.; three sisters, Barbara Prudhomme, Diana W. Robinson, and Sheila W. Vallier; a best sister-friend of 60+ years, Nora Jane (Jo) Joseph; endeared nieces, Pamela D. Bailey (Sebra), Carolyn Calvin (Tyrone), Michelle Edwards, LaJauna F. Ellis (Kevin), Robin R. Futrell (Nate), Terrilyn V. Guillory, Wilma J. Mathews, Sabrina Ned (Pastor Chad), Monica Stevens, Chelsea Thomas (George); doting nephews, Minister Keith Edwards (Yvonne), Johnaton Guillory (Helen), Alonzo Ned (Alexis), Pastor Chad Ned (Sabrina), Shawn Ned (Betsey), a godson, Dennis Prudhomme; a host of other nieces and nephews, relatives, friends; and, members of the Mt. Zion and Jerusalem Church families, the Bay Area Baptist District Association, the California State Baptist Convention, and the National Baptist Convention. 

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