John Wells Hayden was born on June 16, 1928 in Louisville, Kentucky to Bradley and Mattie Hayden. Bradley died when John was a small boy; however, John attended and completed public elementary and high school in Louisville and later went on to Wilberforce University in Dayton, Ohio on a basketball scholarship. While at Wilberforce, John was inducted into the Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. John’s college education was interrupted by his military service in the Korean War, where John served in the United States Marine Corps from 1951-1953. John returned to Wilberforce, where he graduated and then returned to Louisville, where he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Thuston, the following year. Through John and Betty’s union, Andrea and John, Jr. were born.
John and Betty moved to St. Louis in 1955, where John worked as a cartographer at Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC); later renamed Defense Mapping Agency Aerospace Center (DMAAC). John retired from DMAAC in 1992, after 37 years of dedicated service.
Shortly after moving to St. Louis, John and Betty joined Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, where John faithfully served as a Sunday School Teacher, Superintendent of the Sunday School and Deacon. John was also very active in the St. Louis Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). John held several offices, headed numerous committees and was a life member in both organizations. John continued his education by earning an MBA from Webster University and a PhD in Public Administration from Nova University.
John was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Betty, and his sister, Elizabeth.
John is survived by his daughter, Andrea Armstead; son, John, Jr. (Michelle); five grandchildren – Alexis and Lance Armstead II & Ashley, Kathryn and Kaylynn Hayden; and three great grandchildren – Taliyah, Lance III and Kamryn Armstead.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Pleasant Green Legacy Fund, Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, 1220 Rev. G.H. Pruitt Place, St. Louis, MO 63113.
