Coach Hayes' passing touches many

By DAVID HUNTER

A special basketball coach from Woodbury Grammar School, Camia Hayes passed away unexpectedly on September 27 at the tender age of 44. Her passing touched off a lot of emotion all over the community as she touched so many people in so many ways, including the short time we knew each other.

About this time last year, we discussed at the Cannon Courier about increasing the coverage of the local Elementary School basketball league. I had heard so many cool things about the six schools, which made up this wonderful county. However, I had no idea where to start. So, I attended the season opening tournament at WGS, and I was introduced to Mrs. Hayes.

Even though, I got to witness great elementary school basketball at almost every school except Eastside. I promise to visit before the end of this season. A lot of coaches, teachers, and administrators from all six schools made our jobs easier during the past.

However, Mrs. Hayes made sure at the many games we attended at WGS, we were taken care of. She always had a seat for me at the scorers' table, and she helped me with the stats she took during the tournaments, because I am terrible at it.

I don't know why she trusted me, but she even asked me to help her pick out the All-Tournament team. I was always like you are the expert, and I am just some dumb reporter. However, she helped me understand the ins and outs of basketball better, and I will truly miss her, especially at the scorer's table starting with the Border War Tournament the week after Fall Break.

This is what her longtime assistant and current head coach of the WGS girls' team, Felicia Walkup said about her.

"She had a love for basketball within the community," Walkup said. "I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to coach with her for several years at WGS. She has always shown a great love for basketball, and she gave everything she could to support it through the grammar school program, and the preparation and planning for the various tournaments, and assisting the high school with the Mitch Wilson Classic. She always been, the time I have known her to be very hands on and very dedicated to the community to support basketball. More importantly, just her love for the kids she worked with. We have year in and year out a great bunch of kids at WGS. I just hate that has ended for those kids. For me personally, I had a wonderful time be able to coach with her, and an opportunity to call her my friend."