We are heartbroken at the sudden passing of:

Jerry "Lynn" Hays, Jr.

Aka: The smartest man he has ever known, the life of the party, and all-around great guy!

The Thirsty Turtle and The Sports Page will need to find a new revenue source.

Lynn was a 1989 graduate of SR Butler High School, barely, but went on to complete many years of college. He attended Jacksonville State University, Calhoun Community College and finally achieved his bachelor's degree in special education from Alabama A&M University.  Although hard to believe, he graduated Cum Laude with something like a 3.9 GPA. (Impressive)

As an educator, Lynn thrived in the special education field.  He was very passionate about his students and The Special Olympics.  He had the honor of coaching various sports teams this school year.  One of his greatest accomplishments was the development of The Ability Foundation which raised money and installed automatic doors for differently abled students.

Lynn was an obnoxiously enthusiastic Alabama fan (GO VOLS!). He was actually all knowing of all sports, yep you guessed it, even curling.  He had some experience on the football field as quarterback in high school.  Lynn thought he was great; he was ok, but Jeff Miller and Julius Jennings were definitely better. (that joke is for the Butler people) Lynn made up for his shortcoming on the football field with his beloved fantasy football team.  His team, Chocolate Thunder, won the championship this past season and will forever be memorialized on the "Chappy".

Of all things, Lynn was a wonderful friend, companion, and truly great human.  He was loved by so many and even those that hated his banter, loved him too.  Lynn leaves behind an only sister, yes, he has a sister, Rainey Hays, niece Trinity Scott, stepdaughter Sidney Cooper, step grandson Jasper Atchley, many cousins, aunts, and uncles.  Lynn also leaves behind his trusty band of brothers, Billy Walther, Pat Ashmore, Darren Carter, Tom Chapman, Greg Tucker, Jeff Goltz and I am sure so many more but remember some of you did not know he had a sister, so I am doing my best.

As Lynn's death is very hard for all of us, we can take comfort in the fact that he is now reunited with all that went before him.  Lynn is preceded in death by his parents, Jerry and Linda Hays, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles.  He now joins The Legends Club with his best friends, Shawn Bulman and Chris Chapman.

May he rest in peace.

The family will receive friends Saturday, June 7th from 4:00 - 6:00 PM at Berryhill Funeral Home.