Farewell Chief
 |  January 30, 2009  |   20 Comments
 

By Erica Opisso

Ponte Vedra Recorder Editor Grace Elizabeth Hayes, 60, died Wednesday after a short illness and will be missed immediately by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her daughter Emily of Atlantic Beach, her son-in-law Wayne and her two grandsons, Quinn and Sullivan.

 

Hayes had been the editor of The Ponte Vedra Recorder since 1999.

Former Recorder publisher Olivia Bush, now advertising director for the Jacksonville Business Journal, brought Hayes back to The Recorder in 1999 and said, “she was a good steward of that paper.”

“She is genuinely interested in people, she genuinely cared and she listened,” Bush said. “I think everyone loved her because she was part of that community, part of the fabric of the community. They will miss her.”

 

Hayes was a member of the Ponte Vedra Sunset Rotary Club, Leadership St. Johns and a board member of the Ponte Vedra Chamber of Commerce.

Pat West, owner of Ponte Vedra Valley, met Hayes when both women joined the chamber. During their six years with the organization, they sat on every committee together.

“I enjoyed her business sense,” West said.  “I could talk to Grace about everything and anything and knew what I said would never go any further.”

 

Cathy Brown, executive director of the St. Johns County Council on Aging, recalled Hayes' deep dedication to the community. "When I first spoke to Grace about starting a senior center in Ponte Vedra," Brown said, "she understood immediately just how much it would benefit the entire community, and she always supported it."

 

Hayes was born in the Bronx on July 25, 1948, and grew up loving to read and go crabbing, something she did with her grandson Sullivan not too long ago.

 

She  paid her own way through college, graduating from the State University of New York at Geneseo with a degree in English. 

 

In 1970, she moved to Florida, where she worked as a staff writer at the Florida Times Union, Prudential, London Contemporary Art and, during the 1980s and early 1990s, at The Ponte Vedra Recorder. In 1995, Hayes earned a bachelor’s degree  in communications from the University of North Florida.

 

Hayes will be remembered by her colleagues as a mentor and friend who left a legacy of writers who have moved on to successful careers.

A celebration of Grace’s life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. at Ponte Vedra Valley Funeral Home, which is located at 4750 Palm Valley Road.  A reception will be held immediately after the celebration and attendees are urged to bring a refreshment to share.  In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to:

Community Hospice of Northeast Florida

4715 Worrall Way

Jacksonville, FL 32224

 

To read personal remembrances of Grace by the editorial staff of The Recorder, visit the following links:

Mark Pettus

Sara Kaufman

Jesse Jones

For more remembrances from the staff see the drop-down menu at the top of the page.

 
 

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Visitor Comments »

Joey McAllister
 January 29th 2009 - 11:00AM
I am crushed. Grace Hayes was an excellent editor and a very good friend to a young journalist. The world's a lesser place in her absence.
 
April Snyder
 January 29th 2009 - 4:14PM
Grace will truly be missed around here. Her smile just lit up the room. She worked very hard and it was an honor to have worked with her. She cared for everyone. We will surely miss her.
 
Lisa P. P.Lloyd
 January 29th 2009 - 6:58PM
Grace and I date back to the Tim Bradford days (me with the Jax. Register) but it wasn't until '99(?) when I began writing the Style column for the PVR that I really had the wonderful opportunity to get to know her. She was probably the best 'boss' I ever had, though I hesitate to use the 'b' word because it doesn't reflect the kind of interaction I was fortunate to have with her. I was in the throes of a bad divorce and raising my then 6-year-old. Writing my column and, specifically, having Grace as my editor, helped me regain a sense of self-worth, and feel valued and productive, and when I couldn't get a column done due to personal conflicts she never made me feel unprofessional or incompetent. She was genuinely caring, pragmatic, and so connected to the community she served that she will be an incredibly hard act to follow. She backed me up in my advocacy for domestic violence and was an invaluable et in the media in furthering public awareness to the issue. We compared notes on N.Y., kids (mine, when I remarried, came along about the same time as Quinn and Sullivan. Grace introduced me to Noggin for which I will be forever greatful), and I loved talking with her about area politics and the various denizens of Ponte Vedra. I have cried intermittently all day long. Certain people come along in your life for a reason and Grace definitively impacted my life in the very best way. We are blessed to have had her and I am devasted to have not have the opportunity to have told her so. God bless you Grace.
 
Wayne Brown, Sr
 January 29th 2009 - 11:14PM
Grace defined CL. She will be greatly missed.
 
Wayne Brown, Sr
 January 29th 2009 - 11:16PM
Grace defined cl.
 
Tom Cain
 January 30th 2009 - 8:26AM
Grace- You are one of the nicest people I've ever met. Heaven's a better place since you've arrived. Take care, Neighbor.
 
Jan Bialka
 January 30th 2009 - 11:40AM
Grace always lit up the room. As past president of the Friends I was always grateful for the support that Grace gave the Friends and the Library. She was a positive force in our community and will be greatly missed by all.
 
Joey McAllister
 January 30th 2009 - 3:48PM
I recorded a few thoughts at http://tinyurl.com/GraceHayes. It seems that all I've got is words. I wish I could turn it in to Grace for her edits.
 
Vera Poske
 January 30th 2009 - 5:19PM
Grace has followed my daughters tennis career with fervor for the past 10 years. She was always quick to compliment and congratulate us on our families achievements. We spoke often over the phone over the years, and I used to threaten to come in and meet her, but I never took the opportunity. Grace never alluded that she was sick, and I am shocked and saddened by her ping. She even took the time to email me recently when my husband and daughter won another tournament. Grace always made me feel special when we spoke. She will be missed. My sincere condolences to her family and co-workers.
 
Harrison Hove
 January 30th 2009 - 5:46PM
I first wandered into the PVR as an intern when I was 16 and a junior at Nease. Over the years, Grace was a dear friend and mentor. She had such a tremendous influence on my professional life. She was a wonderful woman and contributed a lot to the community. You are all in my thoughts.
 
Liz Morgan
January 31st 2009 - 9:27AM
I am saddened to hear this news. I have worked with her for many years pitching stories for the paper, and Grace was a truly cly, warm and kind person. My heart goes out to her family and friends.
 
Frank Lemaster
 January 31st 2009 - 2:18PM
Grace was a big et to the community, she always followed and knew what was going on. i first met her when i was elected to the MSD Board, i had never been in the public light and went to her after getting beat up in the paper and she helped me to watch what i said especially making sly remarks without knowing, i will greatly miss a true friend. May God be with you. You will be missed by all
 
Peter Hyzak
January 31st 2009 - 10:27PM
Grace and I became instant friends, enjoying conversations usually about food, cooking and restaurants. When I returned from a visit to Italy she wanted to know all about my trip and even published my story about cooking schools there. She was a wonderful person who will be missed.
 
Emily Trapnell
 February 1st 2009 - 8:23AM
Grace made every day, even deadline days, a joy. She was a tower of strength, handling amazing stress and a killer workload with no complaints, lots of laughs and a constant interest in everyone and everything. She made us all not just better writers but better people. She will always be part of us.
 
Diana Noftz
 February 1st 2009 - 12:33PM
Grace and Bob moved to the Jacksonville area in 1970 and my husband Ken and I arrived from Ohio in 1973. I worked with Grace at Prudential beginning in 1973 and we quickly became friends. We first went out with Grace and Bob when Emily was a baby and they lived in an apartment on Penman Road thus beginning a family relationship that was priceless. Since our families were all up north we celebrated all our birthdays and holidays together and put on many Super Bowl parties. Our most memorable trip was renting a cabin in the woods in North Carolina over Christmas one year and making cookies with our children then delivering them to all of the neighboring cabins. Those memories will last forever. Our children-Emily, Tracy, and Zachary were like cousins. When Tracy was born Grace and Bob were named her God Parents and when our son was born it was Grace that suggested the name Zachary. As our lives changed we each became involved in our local communities and since Ken and I are "townies" the distance made it less convenient to get together.Though Emily and I have always exchanged Christmas cards and pictures it has been several years since we saw Grace. In June, when we retired, I told Ken that I would make it a point to go visit our old friend and renew our friendship. Unfortunately, since I waited too long that is not to be. I will always consider Grace my 'sister' and when I think of the word 'lady' Grace is the image in my mind. There is a deep hole in my heart and I feel as though I have lost part of my soul. We returned from her funeral and I began calling other old friends to tell them I love them. I don't want to miss that opportunity a second time in my life.
 
Carole Salinas
 February 1st 2009 - 4:11PM
Grace was a wonderful person who made me, a fledgling writer, feel as I had talent. She encouraged me to write about our trips and experiences and it was thrilling to see my name in print. Grace made that possible.
 
Tracy R. Jacobs
 February 1st 2009 - 4:36PM
It has been many years since I have seen Grace. Unfortunately, I never told her how much she inspired me. I'll forever be grateful for her help, enthusiam and kindness. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all that love her.
 
Jane Fader
 February 2nd 2009 - 12:09PM
I have been working in this area for more than seven years now and I remember Grace was among the first media types I met. She was kind and caring and genuinely willing to listen/consider a story idea regardless of what else she had on her plate at the time. She always made an effort to attend our media functions (or send someone in her stead) and always made me feel like our business at World Golf Village was/is an important part of the Northeast Florida community. Her caring professionalism will be missed. - Her PR friends at World Golf Village
 
Pat Jeffery
 February 2nd 2009 - 4:09PM
I do not remember when I first met Grace, probably thru Olivia. At any rate,we connected and every once in a while would get together to discuss the world of journalism (back in the dark ages, I wrote publicity for NBC in New York City) and politics (she was an invaluable source of info on local politics and politicans and issues) and grandchildren (my how Grace loved her grandchildren as do I!!) I have been away for over a month and learned about Grace's death from the PV Recorder. I could not believe my eyes when I pulled the newspaper from the mail box. I had been thinking about Grace and planning to call her and see if we could get together for lunch or dinner as I looked forward to her insighful comments on the recent election. In addition, Grace was VERY helpful over the years when there was news about St. John's Academy, a Christian clical school in St. Augustine which I support in many ways. I greatly appreciated her help and suggestions!! We both felt strongly about the importance of good education. I shall miss her and deeply regret I did not know she was ill. I would have called and most uredly would have gone to see her as soon as I returned to PV. So...this is my goodbye, for now, to a very special woman. I shall miss her but I know I will see her again. To her daughter, son-in-law and especially her two grandsons - what a marvelous legacy she has left for you.
 
Wallis Brooks
 February 3rd 2009 - 1:07PM
Grace Hays will be missed by all who knew her. Grace was a true professional, one who always helped when and where she could. St. John's Academy was the beneficiary of her kindness and consideration as she supported our efforts to maintain a Christian, clical presence in St. Augustine. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of her family and friends.
 
 
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