Spanky Hayes
Charles Erwin “Spanky” Hayes, age 71, of Dalton, Georgia, departed this life Friday, January 3, 2020 at Erlanger Hospital.
Spanky was born May 16, 1948 in Dalton, Ga., a son of the late John Henry and Mary Alice Long Hayes. He was a 1966 graduate of Dalton High School and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Brenau College in 1988.
Spanky’s life was dedicated to serving others, he never met a stranger and enjoyed life. He loved his family, friends and Dalton State Roadrunner Basketball. He loved to laugh and make people laugh and will be remembered for his great sense of humor, storytelling, and purposely singing Happy Birthday loud and off key. He was an active member of Salem Baptist Church.
Spanky spent over 30 years in law enforcement. He began with Whitfield County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy then a captain and then a detective. Spanky then joined the Georgia Department of Corrections and the Dalton Probation Office in 1985. He was hired as a surveillance officer with the new Intensive Probation Program. He made many contributions to its success and was called upon many times to brief groups from other states on the role of the surveillance officer.
During the last years before he retired, Spanky was a probation officer III and trained and supervised POs in the Dalton Office. In addition, he continued to supervise probationers. He also was assigned to be the PO for the Conasauga Drug Court started by Judge Jack Partain. He worked closely with the Drug Court Team and greatly contributed to the success of that court and many probationers who went through the program. Spanky retired in 2010.
He is survived by his loving wife, Janet Davis Hayes of the residence; daughter, Bethany Faith Ausmus of Atlanta, Ga.; sisters and brother-in-law, Linda and Darrell Dempsey of Dalton, Ga., Judy Pankey of Gulf Breeze, Fl.; aunt, Syble Hurd of Stockbridge, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
Services to celebrate the life of Mr. Charles “Spanky” Hayes will be held Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 2 p.m. at Salem Baptist Church with his pastor, Reverend Darey Kittle officiating. He will be laid to rest at Poplar Springs Baptist Church Cemetery with Jeff Shoemaker, Wayne Saylors, Kerry Page and Scott McAllister serving as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at Ponders Melrose Chapel Monday, Jan. 6, from 5-9 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 7, from 10 a.m. until the service hour.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the Dalton State Student Food Pantry. Contributions can be made mailed to Dalton State Foundation at 650 College Dr. Dalton GA 30720.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.pondersfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are by Ponders Melrose Chapel 138 Melrose Drive Dalton, GA 30721, (706) 226-4002.