Mary Ann Hodges Hayden

Mary Ann Hodges Hayden, 87, of Clemson passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at Clemson Downs Retirement Center, Clemson, SC.

Mary Ann was born and raised in a farming community near Orangeburg, SC to a dairy farmer in desperate times after the great depression.  Despite these challenging times, she met the love of her life, Tommy, as a teenager at a town street dance in North, SC.  What followed, one could only describe as a fairy tail story; birthing three sons in the small college town of Clemson, SC and living a blessed life, full of loving memories of family meals, gardening, vacations in a pop-up camper, Sunday church, Monday work, holidays in Orangeburg, watching the men come in from hunting or fishing, weddings, RV buddies, playing cards or dominos, listening to long oracles from Tommy, and so on…

What mattered most was her unwavering love for her family; always present to cook three meals a day, car-pooling to sport practice or games, hosting cub scout meetings, and asking what’s going on in our lives. 

She was a retired administrator at Clemson University’s Chemical Engineering Department, a dedicated member of Clemson UMC, volunteer at the Clemson Downs Healthcare Center, and an auxiliary member of Tom’s civic clubs: Lions, American Legion, and Masonic bodies.

Mary Ann and Tom enjoyed traveling extensively around the world from Europe, China, Israel, and all over the United States … once all the way to Alaska with an RV in tow.

She is survived by her three sons, Joseph T. Hayden (Angie) of Simpsonville, SC, Paul A. Hayden (Bonnie) of Wilmington, NC and Mark E. Hayden (Elena) of Fayetteville, NC; four granddaughters, Kathryn M. Hayden Beck (Nick), Victoria B. Hayden Myers (Nick), Sophie M. Hayden and Isabelle L. Hayden, and her loving sister, Linda Hodges Brigman. 

Mary Ann is predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Thomas Edgar Hayden, Jr., her parents; Joseph (father) and Bernelle Hodges, Louie and Mildred (mother) McCaskill. 

A memorial service will be held at 1 PM, Saturday, December 9, 2023 at the Clemson United Methodist Church, visitation prior starting 11 AM in the Church Narthex. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to the building fund of Clemson United Methodist Church, 300 Frontage Road, Clemson, SC 29631 or click here: Tackle The Debt Campaign | Clemson United Methodist Church (myvanco.com)

A poster board will be available for anyone desiring to bring a favorite photo of Mary Ann to display. 

Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home is assisting the Hayden family.