Marion Howard Haygood, a Greenville native, died in Birmingham on April 21, 2009. He was born on May 31, 1914, the second son of Ella Howard and John Lewis Haygood. He was a graduate of Butler County High School, Bob Jones College and the University of Alabama School of Law. After law school, he was the manager of the newly formed Wiregrass Rural Electrification Cooperative in Hartford, Ala. While working there, he met and married his wife, Katharine Liddon Smith Haygood of Dothan. After Pearl Harbor, he volunteered for the US Navy and achieved the rank of lieutenant. He served in the Atlantic and Pacific theatres, the Mediterranean and North Africa, and was at sea for most of the war. After the war, he and his wife moved to Greenville, where he opened a law practice.
In Greenville, he was active in the affairs of the First United Methodist Church, serving as chairman of the official board and the pastoral relations committee, superintendent of the Sunday School and teacher of many Sunday School classes.
He practiced law in Greenville for over 50 years, well into his 80s. He was for many years judge of the Inferior Court, chairman of the Butler County Democratic Committee, and president of the Greenville/Butler County Bar Association. IN the late 1950s, he served on the Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee and was instrumental in having the symbol of segregation removed from the ballots used in the state. He was a member of the Rotary Club, serving in several positions, including president, the Gideons International, and was a founding director and counsel for The Greenville Bank. In 2008, based on his longtime involvement, first as manager of the Wiregrass Cooperative and later as counsel for Pioneer Cooperative, Mr. Haygood was honored with a Pathfinder Award by the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives.
In recent years, he resided in Birmingham in Galleria Woods. He continued to be active during his time there, serving on the residents’ advisory board, attending Bible studies and church services, and in general, keeping up on current events. In the last weeks of his life, he lived at his daughter’s home in Birmingham. Through his life, he was devoted to his family, his friends and his faith Among the things he loved were reading, especially history, hearing and telling a good story, the color red, sweets and the Crimson Tide.
He is survived by two daughters, Marion Haygood Threadcraft (Hal) of Birmingham and Kathy Haygood of Falls Church, Virginia; three grandchildren, Joshua Howard Threadcarft (Kellie) of Birmingham, John Caleb Threadcraft of Fort Campell, Ky., and Anna Threadcarft Leiper (Andy) of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; two great-grandchildren, Lynley Freeman Threadcraft and Kathryn Law Threadcraft of Birmingham. A funeral will be held in Greenville and a memorial service in Birmingham, times to be announced. Contact Harrison Funeral Home for further information. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made to New Beacon Hospice, 122 7th Avenue, N.E., Suite D, Alabaster, AL 35007; First United Methodist Church, 112 Adams St., Greenville, AL 36037, or the Gideons International PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN.