Ola Marie Hayse

With peace and love in our hearts, we celebrate the life of Ola Marie Hayse, who passed away on September 19, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 80 years old.

Ola was the youngest of six children born on July 10, 1945, in Yazoo City, Mississippi to the late Benard and Velmarie Fouche. Also preceding her in death were siblings: Otis Fouche, Willeva Stokes, and Alton Fouche. She grew up surrounded by love and laughter, and her vibrant spirit was evident from an early age. She attended her early school years in Decatur, MI and graduated from Niles High School in 1963, where she was the school’s first Black varsity cheerleader. She attended Southwestern for 1 year before marrying Rudy Wade (d: 1999) of South Bend, Indiana and moved with him to Altus, Oklahoma where he served in food service in the United States Air Force. To this union, two daughters were born: Tracie Richardson (Southfield, Michigan), and Dawn (DawnyKat) Wade, who preceded her in death on May 30, 2015. This union ended and Ola married Stephen Hayse on June 23, 1979, and remained married for over 46 years.

Ola accepted Christ at an early age and had been a member of Franklin AME Church in Niles, Michigan, and sang in the youth choir. After moving to Detroit, Michigan she joined Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan.

She worked as a receptionist at R.E Daily Construction Company from 1982 to 1992 but retired after being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

Among her many hobbies, Ola was a fierce card player when it came to playing Spades, Poker, and Bid Whist and was the consummate smack talker. She was a masterful cook whose meals were legendary, and a woman who took joy in the appreciation her dishes received. Her home was a haven of comfort, laughter, and love. She enjoyed fishing as well, taking yearly fishing trips to Canada with her husband and other relatives and close friends and often out-fished them! This was her happy place.

Ola was affectionately known as Auntie Gramma, Mom Ola, Oleo, and Punkin’ - a name her husband always called her.

Ola’s health began to decline around 2013 when she and others close to her began noticing memory losses. She would often write notes to herself to remind her of special birthdays and familial relationships. Though Alzheimer’s dimmed the light of her later years, Ola’s love, laughter, and legacy continue to shine brightly in the hearts of those who knew her.

She leaves to mourn her passing and to cherish their memories: her devoted husband, Stephen Hayse; a loving daughter Tracie Richardson who helped provide her care; two grandchildren: Jason Richardson and Ashleigh Richardson, whom she loved and lived for; a sister: Etha Merlene Fouche; a brother Lenard Fouche; a host of nieces and nephews, and longtime faithful friends that are too many to name.

Her family would like everyone to remember her for the caring, generous, and loving person she was before Alzheimer’s stole years of life and memories from her. To know Ola was to be loved deeply, and her family was her greatest joy—she gave them everything she had! She was the heart of our family and will be dearly missed.

Family and friends will gather in Halbritter Wickens Funeral Services 615 East Main Street Niles, Michigan, Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 9:00a.m. until the time of the service at 10:00a.m. Ola will be laid to rest in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Halbritter Wickens Funeral Services. Please share a memory or a message online: Halbritterwickens.com.