STYX RIVER, Ala. — There have been times that Estelle White Hayes’ 95 years of life has been referred to as a miracle. The fact that she survived severe burns to her body when she was 17 is a miracle within itself. But her trust in God and her resolve to live was stronger than the months of agony and suffering. This is the life story of an amazing woman who lived through hardships, hard times and hard work, but you will not hear her complain today. She only thanks God for being with her during every trial and circumstance.
Estelle White was born in 1915 at Perdido to Mandy and Mose White. Since she was the oldest of eight children and her mother worked in the fields Estelle learned early in life the skill of cooking on a wood stove, pumping water for cleaning and doing the laundry the primitive way with a wash pot and rub board. She also had the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings. When Estelle was 12 years old her family which consisted of six children and their parents moved their few belongings on a Model T truck to a wooded area near Loxley, Alabama. Her father took a job extracting turpentine from large pine trees for David Franklin Barnhill who lived in Loxley. Barnhill owned a turpentine still located on his property on County Road 68.
Four years later when Estelle was 16 she stood by her mother’s bedside and told her mother she loved her as she lay dying from complications of the birth of twin babies. In a faint weak voice while on her death bed Mrs. White asked Estelle to do the best she could taking care of her twin baby boys who had both survived and the other children. Estelle promised her mother that she would keep the children together. Even though several families including Mr. and Mrs. Joe White asked if they could take the babies and bring them up, Estelle politely refused their offer as she remembered her vow. Knowing she had an awesome responsibility ahead of her she went to the Lord to ask for His help and guidance during the busy years ahead.
About a year later, Barnhill moved the White family into another house on County Road 68. In the past the houses the White family had lived in had a fire place but this house had a tin heater. One cold day Estelle fired up the heater, gave twins William and Willie their bath and put them down for a nap in a long wooden bed that Walter Dyess made for them. Estelle stood by the heater warming her back while looking at a magazine. Suddenly, she smelled an odor like burning cloth. When she realized her back was on fire, she started screaming and rushed outside where the younger children were playing and fell on the ground. The children began to cry and scream, too. Neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Joe White heard the commotion and ran as fast as they could to investigate. They wrapped Estelle in a blanket, put the fire out and carried Estelle to Dr. R.A. Hail’s office in Robertsdale. Estelle suffered severe burns to her back, arms and hands.
After Dr. Hail cleaned Estelle’s wounds he applied salve to her burns and wrapped her in bandages. He told her that when this was all over, he had something to tell her. She was coherent enough to wonder what the doctor would say. Dr. Hail told her if she was able to come back to his office the next day, but she was not able to go, so Dr. Hail drove out to treat Estelle every day (seven days a week) for seven months. Afterwards, he came every other day for two more months. When her faithful country doctor came to treat her the last day after her recovery she told him she had waited nine months to hear what he was going to tell her. Dr. Hail replied, “I didn’t think I would have anything to tell you because I thought you would be in the mortuary.” But God still had a purpose for Estelle and things for her to do.
It was almost a year before Estelle was well enough to do anything. Her neighbors were faithful to come do what needed to be done and see to the children’s needs. The twins had begun to call Estelle “Mama” but when they saw her in all those bandages, they cried because they were afraid of her. However, one day their daddy, Mose White, took them to get their first hair cut. When he returned he took them upstairs to show Estelle how they looked. As they sat on the foot of her bed they began to say, “Mama!” “Mama!”
Later on, after Mr. Barnhill built the White family a new house, Mr. White decided to have a “Frolic.” In those days people would gather in each others homes and square dance. That night a young man by the name of Albert Hayes began to notice Estelle. From then on he came to visit often and soon asked her to marry him. Not only did Albert take Estelle as his wife, but carried her entire family to live with them. The couple’s ready made family consisted of Mr. White, and seven children. As the years passed, Albert and Estelle had four children of their own, Marvin, Jimmy, Christine Hayes (Darby) and Dorlis, who only lived a few hours. Jimmy died when he was 8 years old. He lost his balance when he was riding with Marvin on the back of a paper wood truck and fell off. It was a sad time for Estelle and Albert to loose two children within a few years. Later, Albert and Estelle built a house large enough to accommodate their growing family during the war years.
One day Estelle’s friend, Betty Langham, who was the cook in the lunchroom at Rosinton School, asked her to take her job because she needed to help her husband with his truck farming. Estelle wanted the school to keep the lunchroom going, so she finally agreed since she knew the children needed hot lunches. When a classroom was converted to serve as the lunchroom Jim Seay built the tables and the children sat on blocks of wood for stools. When commodities that had to be frozen such as turkeys or chickens were delivered they had to be stored in Floyd Ellison’s or Alton Hankin’s freezer until needed. The students evidently enjoyed Estelle’s cooking because she kept the job for 13 years.
Estelle then began working at Beasley Nursing Home in Fairhope where her Daddy was a patient. The job there allowed her to be with her father some every day. Albert died in 1970 and then about two years later her daddy, Mose White, died in the nursing home. She was able to drive her car until she was 93, but had to stop when she accidently injured her leg that still bothers her. Today, her memory remains sharp and she can still cook up a pot of chicken and dumplings or fresh turnip greens if some of the family drops by.
When Estelle celebrated her 94th birthday friends and relatives gave her money to add to her saving so she could have her house painted. However, one day when she was home alone, she heard a car drive up in her yard. Thinking it was her son, Marvin and daughter-in-law, Joanne, she went to unlatch the screen door. Just as she unlatched the door a man whom she did not know snatched the door open and said, “I’m here to survey this old house.” Estelle told him she did not know him and pleaded with him to leave just as another man appeared at the door and barged in. The men went straight to the dining room and began trying to sell her some linoleum. They held up the floor covering so she could not see into her bedroom. Estelle began to think of her favorite scripture from Psalm 91 and prayed for God to deliver her from the intruders. Her prayers were answered since the men left, but she soon discovered that her money was missing. A third man had sneaked in and stole her money even though she never saw him. Thankfully, Estelle was not hurt but was visibly shaken. The Loxley Police encouraged Estelle to go on television and tell her story because it might help them find the thieves. She reluctantly told about the robbery and when people heard her story they became very outraged, yet sympathetic. Strangers Estelle had never met donated money along with friends and neighbors from her community of Rosinton. Help from the Styx River and Rosinton Fire Department, Robertsdale Assembly of God Church, Rosinton United Methodist Church and Lighthouse Baptist Church and others donated money and volunteered their services. Lowes donated the paint, so with everyone working together the house was pressure washed and painted. At this time the robbers still have not been arrested.
This year when Estelle turned 95 her family hosted a big birthday celebration at Styx River Fire Station. People came from far and near to celebrate the life of their relative or close friend. There was more food than the crowd could consume and standing room only. Estelle stood in a receiving line for several hours greeting and hugging her many friends and family members with a continuous smile on her face. She has been a member of Assembly of God Church in Robertsdale for 25 years where Brother Michael Lynn is pastor. Estelle’s favorite pastime is reading the Bible, praying and visiting with friends and relatives. She has clung to the verses of Psalm 91 where it explains, if you trust in God, no evil will befall you because He will give His angels charge over you and give you long life. (Paraphrased). She enjoys visits from her children and their spouses, her nine grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Someone caught a snapshot of Estelle bowing her head in prayer to thank God for his many blessings the day the house was painted. That picture was placed on her 95th birthday cake decorated with butterflies and flowers. Although Estelle was the oldest child, she has survived all her siblings except one sister who remains in critical condition. When asked what Estelle contributed to her longevity, she said she has always tried to live right, serve the Lord and help others. Truly, Estelle Hayes is an amazing woman who has shown her love for her family and fellowman by her good works.
