Obituary of Willie Mae Hailstock

Willie Mae was the eighth of eleven children born to Robert and Addie Graham. She enjoyed a wondrous childhood growing up on her parents' farm with her sisters and brothers and often spoke about their adventures in the woods, fields and creeks of Saluda, South Carolina.

Upon graduation from Bettis Academy, Willie Mae moved to Arlington, Virginia to live with her brother Linton and his family while she sought employment. It was during this time that she met and later married Thomas Hailstock. Two daughters were born from this union, Gloria (Tootie) and Thomasina (Babysis). Willie Mae was an exceptional mother who doted on her little girls, staying home to nurture and guide them until they were teenagers before starting her career with the federal government. She worked briefly at Bolling Air Force Base, transferring later to the US Postal Service where she remained for 30 years until her retirement in 1990.

Shortly after retirement, her health began to deteriorate and she started displaying symptoms of dementia. It was a relatively slow progression that allowed her to continue most of the activities she enjoyed for some time--things like shopping, cooking all of those delicious dishes that her family loved and going "up the road to A.C." to play the slot machines. She fought the illness just as she lived her life, with strength and dignity.

Willie Mae was very family oriented and derived great pleasure from spending time with her family. She was a wonderful grandmother and was very protective over her grandkids, sometimes to the dismay of her daughters.

Willie Mae was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Hailstock; her parents, Robert and Addie Graham; five brothers--Eugene, Howard, Linton, Robert, and Leroy Graham; three sisters--Ora Long, Ida Ruth Brown and Ella Graham; one grandson--Michael Greely. She leaves to cherish her memory, two loving and devoted daughters--

Gloria (Thomas) and Thomasina (Norman); three grandchildren--Kevin Greely (Cheryl), Kim Anderson and Kelli Farmer; three great-grandsons--Rico, Kendall and Sire; two brothers--John (Willa Mae) and Samuel (Shirley), and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.