Reverend Ralph Haywood, 96, went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 25, 2018, and was able to hear those words from Jesus: "Well done, good and faithful servant." Ralph was preceded in death by his first wife of 42 years, Mae Evelyn Braddy Haywood, second wife of 29 years, Nadine Hobby Willis Haywood, five sisters and one brother. Survivors include son, Van Haywood (Angie), daughter, Wanda Swanson; step-children Keith Willis (Lynn), David Willis (Lynn), Stanley Willis (Karen) and Beverly Dunn (Tony); brother, Robert Earl Haywood (Shirley), sister, Juanita Soles; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A veteran of World War II, he served as a field medic with medical and dental responsibilities under the leadership of General Patton. After the war, he supported his family as a dental laboratory technician under the name Haywood's Dental Lab. During this time, he was also an active lay-speaker in the United Methodist Church.

Later God called Ralph into the ministry as a full-time pastor and he served numerous churches in the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. His evangelistic efforts in South Georgia earned him the Harry Denman Award "in recognition of his exemplary obedience to the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ".

The funeral will be held on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Pine Forest United Methodist Church in Dublin, Georgia, with interment following in Dublin Memorial Gardens. The Rev. John Eubanks and Rev. Wes Moye will officiate. The family will receive guests at 1:00 p.m. at the church before the funeral.

For those desiring, memorials can be made to Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church in Augusta, Georgia. The family would like to say a special thanks to the wonderful staff at Pruitt Health in North Augusta, SC, for their tender care of "Papa" in his final years.