Deedra LaShun Hayes' Obituary
With hearts full of love, gratitude, and reverence for the goodness of God, we celebrate the life and legacy of Deedra LaShun Cullins Hayes, a beautiful woman of God whose life shined as a testament to unwavering faith, unshakable joy, and boundless love. Born on November 28, 1973, to Thelvie Cullins, Sr. and Mary Cullins, Deedra entered the world with a gentle strength and a God-given grace that would one day inspire every life she touched.
From an early age, Deedra radiated compassion. She attended Adelle Turner Elementary School, and at the age of six, she joyfully welcomed her baby brother, Thelvie Cullins, Jr., whom she loved dearly. Even as a child, Deedra nurtured the hearts around her with maturity beyond her years.
At nine years old, Deedra faced a life-changing diagnosis of Type I diabetes. While most fourth graders are concerned with playgrounds and schoolwork, Deedra stepped into a new world of constant monitoring, insulin shots, and strict dietary routines. Yet, even in this early adversity, she never complained. Instead, she trusted God, knowing He would carry her through every challenge. God’s goodness surrounded her as she attended Camp Sweeney for multiple summers, forming a community that strengthened her emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Deedra continued her academic journey at Atwell Middle School, where she excelled and earned first chair as a clarinet player. Her brilliance blossomed further at the High School for Health Professions, where she graduated number three in the Class of 1991, earning over $150,000 in scholarships from notable institutions including Florida A&M University, the University of Oklahoma, Xavier University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Because of her health challenges, and by what would later reveal itself as God’s divine orchestration, she chose to attend the University of Texas on a full scholarship.
While in Austin, her health began to decline as diabetes affected her vision and kidney function. Still, she pressed forward courageously, holding onto faith, leaning into prayer, and trusting the God who had never failed her. Though she returned home in 1997, just 27 hours short of completing her computer science degree, she gained something far greater: she met the love of her life, Darren C. Hayes.
On May 8, 1999, Deedra and Darren were united in holy matrimony. Though she entered marriage with only 10% kidney function, she also entered it with complete trust in God’s plan and a love for her husband that would grow deeper with every trial and triumph they faced together.
On September 27, 1999, at age 25, Deedra received a kidney and pancreas transplant. Though her body rejected the pancreas, causing her to remain a Type I diabetic, she received her new kidney with grace and hope. Her life testified that God’s goodness does not eliminate challenges but sustains us through them.
Deedra’s love for people led her to work as a leasing agent in Austin, which later inspired her to pursue real estate. She became a realtor with Keller Williams in Arlington, TX, where her warm spirit made clients feel cared for, seen, and valued. In 1999, she and Darren joined Covenant Church, where her faith deepened, and her service and devotion to God grew richer.
The next decade brought joy, travel, laughter, and cherished moments with her beloved husband. Yet even when new storms arose, Deedra continued to walk with a smile that reflected her confidence in God’s sovereignty.
In 2011, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and bravely endured a double mastectomy and 34 rounds of radiation. Though she was never officially declared cancer-free, God covered her with grace, and she lived many more years without significant recurrence.
In 2017, pneumonia treatments caused nephrotoxic damage, leading to the failure of her transplanted kidney. By late 2018, she began peritoneal dialysis—9 hours a night, 7 days a week. Soon after, in February 2019, Deedra suffered a stroke. Yet again, God’s goodness prevailed. She recovered so remarkably that she did not require rehabilitation and even traveled to San Diego to celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary just months later.
In 2021, further complications required a recommended triple bypass, which she agreed to in hopes of requalifying for the transplant list. Despite her courage and determination, long-term dialysis led to calcification of her cardiovascular system, making her no longer eligible for a second transplant and ushering in a gradual decline in her health.
But through every challenge, every diagnosis, procedure, setback, and uncertainty, Deedra never complained. Her faith in God was unwavering. She believed wholeheartedly that He was walking with her through every valley and carrying her through every storm. Her life proclaimed that God is good, not because circumstances are easy, but because His presence is constant.
Deedra made everyone who knew her feel as if she had been placed on earth just for them. Her love overflowed. Her joy uplifted. Her peace calmed. Her generosity of spirit often outweighed her own needs, and she modeled what it meant to serve God by loving His people.
Though her earthly journey was marked by many battles, her life was crowned with victory in faith, victory in love, victory in perseverance, and victory in the unwavering goodness of God.
Today, we celebrate Deedra LaShun Cullins Hayes:
A daughter, sister, wife, friend. A woman of grace. A vessel of compassion. A warrior of faith. An embodiment of God’s love.
Her legacy lives on in every life she touched, every heart she lifted, and every testimony she inspired. And while she will be deeply missed, we rest in the blessed assurance that she will be healed, whole, and rejoicing in the eternal presence of her Savior.
Deedra was preceded in death by her grandparents. She leaves to cherish her memory, her devoted husband, Darren Hayes; her loving parents, Mary and Thelvie Cullins, Sr.; her “L’il Big” brother, Thelvie Cullins, Jr. (Shayla); a niece, Zeniya Deenae Cullins and nephews, Zyan Williams-Crain, Zavie Carter Cullins; supportive godmother, Phyllis Tigner and host of other family and friends.
To God be the glory for the life of Deedra LaShun Cullins Hayes, a life beautifully lived and divinely guided every step of the way.
If you would like to honor Deedra with a gift. Please consider donating on her behalf to one of the following organizations:
National Kidney Foundations
https://kidneytribute.rallybound.org/
American Diabetes Association
https://diabetes.org/ways-to-contribute
Camp Sweeney
https://campsweeney.org/donate/
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