John F. Haywood Jr.

John F. Haywood Jr. quietly transitioned from his earthly home to his heavenly home on Wednesday evening, October 2, 2024, surrounded by his family.  John was the firstborn to the late John F. Haywood Sr. and Edna Brown Haywood on June 7, 1945.

He grew up in Williamsburg and was baptized at St. John Baptist Church at a young age. John and his wife Charlotte resided in Yorktown and were members of Calvary Community Church in Hampton, VA. 

John graduated from James Weldon Johnson High School.  He later attended North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Education in 1970.  After graduation, he taught school in Salisbury, NC and Dinwiddie, VA. 

John was drafted into the United States Army and served a tour of duty with the 132nd Artillery Unit in Vietnam. John’s tenure in the Army resulted in receiving several awards: the Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the Expert Marksmanship Badge. Upon being honorably discharged from the Army, John attended graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University, majoring in Rehabilitation Counseling.  This was the catalyst for his working with people with drug addictions.

John was later employed with the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board for twenty-five years. He served as the Program Manager for both the Detox and the Methadone Programs. John retired as the Administrator of the Newport News Drug Court. He was a State Certified Substance Abuse Professional and an Acupuncture Detox Specialist and Trainer.

John’s passion was always helping those in need of substance abuse treatment. He was often thought of as “THE” contact person if you needed a treatment referral because he had the connections and developed relationships with services throughout the state. 

John was a member of several boards and associations: State Board Member for the Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals (VAAP), a member of the American Legion Post 368, North Carolina A&T Alumni Association, and a Past Board Member of Hampton Roads Community Action Program, formally OHA (The Office of Human Affairs). Additionally, he served on the Board of the Peninsula Institute for Community Health, the Office of Human Affairs, Inc., and the Newport News Reentry Committee Board. He also worked with the Newport News Sheriff’s Office as part of the Mayor’s Council for Reentry for ex-inmates.

John was the founding member of the Peninsula Chapter of SAARA (Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia), and recipient of the Norveleate Downing-Gross Achievement Award in 2010. He was also the Inaugural Recipient of the Patty L. Gilbertson Excellence in Service Award presented by the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board in 2012 for exemplifying the essence of service to others and commitment to the mission of the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board.

John’s pastime enjoyments included attending Friday Night High School sporting events and Saturday college sports with his sports buddies. In addition to sports, he also enjoyed the art of cooking. 

John leaves fond memories to be cherished by his loving and devoted wife, of twenty-five years, Charlotte; sons, Anthony (Keyna), Travis (Ellen), Gerald, and Raymond; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother Kenneth Haywood (Barbara) of Williamsburg, VA; sister Linda Haywood of Richmond, VA; nephews and nieces; and a host of extended family members and friends.

The family welcomes your attendance at John’s homegoing celebration at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Calvary Community Church, 2311 Tower Place, Hampton, VA. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Friday, October 11, 2024, at St John Baptist Church, 1397 Penniman Road, Williamsburg, VA.  Interment will take place at a later date at the Albert G. Horton Memorial Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to North Carolina A&T Aggie Athletic Foundation, Department of Athletic-Moore Gym, 1601 East Market St., Greensboro, NC 27411.

Professional services entrusted to the staff of Whiting's Funeral Home, 7005 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185. 757-229-3011 whitingsfuneralhome.com

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