Mr. Johnnie "JR" Haywood

My journey of life began on June 2, 1956 and ended November 7, 2025 at the age of 69 years. Let me tell you a little bit about my journey. I was born in a small city, Saginaw, Michigan to Doris Lee Haywood and L.D. Wills and my father figure William N. Haywood. They named me Johnnie Ray Haywood, that’s where it all began. I attended Saginaw Public Schools and later college. After High school I started my career at Romanow Building Services and Hemlock Semiconductor alongside Jeff Tinsley and Eric Isom. Throughout my adulthood I became a community mentor of Longstreet Elementary School under the leadership of Mr. Rousseau. I coached little league basketball teams, worked with the Civitan Center and was a mentor to many. Some things I enjoyed were fishing, working on cars and camping. If you knew me you know music was my thing and man, did I love cracking jokes. To carry on my legacy, I leave my best friend, my confidante, my lovely wife of 19 years Laura “Gigi” Jean Haywood; three daughters, LaTonya (Elijah) Parsley, Venus McDole (Taurus) and Tanisha Vaughans; two sons, John Parham and Ken Harris; bonus kids, Shalita Vining and Jamario Love; 25 grand kids and a host of great-grand kids. My only living brother, Claude (Genita) Wills; three sisters, Betty Wills Palmer, Virginia Arnett and Azzilee Wills; four sisters-in-law, Deborah Parsley, Beverly (Duane) Richardson, Connie Gray and Renee McCall; a brother-in-law, Lance Parsley; nieces, cousins, nephews, godsons, special friends, my Greater Williams Temple Church family and extended families. As I enter into the afterlife, waiting for me will be my mother, Doris Haywood; fathers, L.D. Wills and William Haywood; grandsons, Darius Gates and John Parham; brothers, Leroy, William, Jr., Larry Gray, John McCall and Charles Davis; four sisters, Brenda and Barbra Haywood, Cheryl Bond and Patricia Davis. A host of other relatives and friends. And to those I leave here on earth, it’s not goodbye, but see ya later! Johnnie Family hour will take place at 12:00 p.m..on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at Greater Williams Temple C.O.G.I.C., 608 East Remington, Saginaw, Michigan 48601 with the funeral service commencing at 1:00 p.m. Supt. Arthur Aikin, Sr., Pastor and First Administrative Assistant, Andreas J. Parsley-Williams will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery, 3210 S. Washington Ave., Saginaw, Michigan 48601. Visitation will take place on Friday at the funeral home from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m.

Mr. Johnnie "JR" Haywood

June 2, 1956 - November 7, 2025