M H Keyes

Published 4:00 am Thursday, June 25, 2015

    Services for M H Keyes will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Walter Patrick Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, with Berry and Gardner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

    Mr. Keys departed this life on Saturday, June 20, 2015, at his residence.

He was born in Taylorsville, to the late the Rev. Matthew and Fannie Noble Keyes on Oct. 10, 1950. He was a member of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, and has served as deacon, laymen director, Christian Education Ministry president, Sunday School teacher, weekly Bible Study teacher, choir member and served in many other capacities. He had a genuine passion for teaching God’s Word. He served as the first vice president of the Mississippi Baptist State Laymen’s Movement. He was director of the Second New Hope District Laymen’s Movement.

    Mr. Keyes graduated from Central High School in 1968 and earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Jackson State University in 1973. He was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. He was a strong supporter of promoting higher education by helping students receive scholarships.

    Mr. Keyes taught for a short period of time in the Quitman Public School District. He joined Delco Remy, a division of General Motors, where he retired with 30 years of service.

    He was a member of the Meridian/Lauderdale County Alumni Chapter of Jackson State University and was president elect of the chapter. He was a member of the Viscounts Civic Organization, the Council of Organizations and Central Mississippi Region 8.

    Survivors include his wife of 39 years Sandra Lucille King Keyes; two daughters, Sanyika Lokassa Keyes of Alexandria, La. and Monyette Helayne (George Dexter) Davis of Madison; granddaughter, Moniyah Helayna Davis; grandson, George Dexter Davis II; two sisters, Ruth (Darious) Edmonson of Enterprise and Noble Ruth Gamble of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; four brothers: Willie J. (Retha) Keyes of Williamsport, Pa., Corby L. Keyes of Bethlehem, Pa., Robert (Patricia) Keyes of Ft. Lauderdale, and Jairus (Patricia) Keyes of Shreveport, La.; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

    He was preceded in death by his father, the Rev. Matthew Keyes, mother Fannie Noble Keyes and brother Roy Keyes.

    Family hour will be Friday, from 6-7 p.m., at the church. Viewing will be one hour prior to services at the church.