Richard Kelley Haywood

Richard Kelley Haywood, 90, passed away Thursday, May 9, 2024 at Autumn Care of Biscoe, surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be held Monday, May 13, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Troy, officiated by Rev. Thomas Simpson.  Burial will follow at Southside Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. prior to the service.

Richard was born October 12, 1933, in Mt. Gilead, to Frank “Tobe” and Myrtie Haywood. After graduating from Mt. Gilead High School, he attended North Carolina State University. He then worked for 35 years at Gilead Manufacturing as the Data Processing Manager. He ended his work career at Central Carolina Vending Company in Marketing and Customer Service.

Richard was an outstanding athlete his whole life. He was a star football and baseball player in high school. In his early forties, he began playing golf and that became “his” game. After winning the NC/SC Super Senior Golf Tournament in 2005, he was asked to serve on the NC Golf Panel and was a member for 14 years. He loved playing North Carolina’s best courses and established many lifetime friendships as a panel member.

Richard was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Troy where he was actively involved in church functions throughout his life. He loved mowing and yardwork. In recent years, he spent most mornings socializing at the Speckled Paw Coffee Shop and the FirstHealth Fitness Center in Troy.

He was a family man, making his family always top priority. He was a devoted husband to Peggy Haywood for 68 years and is now happily reunited with her in Heaven. He had one daughter, Beth Walker (John); two grandchildren, Kelley Howell (Brooke) and Hollis Fletcher (Craig); and was “Pop” to five great-grandchildren, Braelyn Howell, Chandler Howell, Everleigh Howell, Hayes Fletcher, and Nora Fletcher. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Billy Frank Haywood, Hilda Poplin, and E.C. DeBerry.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 239 N. Russell St., Troy, NC 27371 or Montgomery Community College Foundation, 1011 Page St, Troy, NC 27371, designated for Peggy Haywood Memorial Nursing Endowed Scholarship.

Bumgarner Family Funeral Service is serving the family.

Online condolences may be made at www.bumgarnerfunerals.com