Rev. T. N. Hays, 60, pastor of the North Red Bank church, Chattanooga, and his wife, were killed instantly in an auto accident near Tampa, Fla., April 29.

Another couple, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Kell, in the car with them were also killed, when the car crashed into a log truck.

The two couples were on a vacation together.

Funeral services for the Hays were held at Chattanooga May 3, with Dr. J. Fred Johnson, officiating; another service was held at Cleveland, Tenn., and interment was there.

The funeral service for Mr.and Mrs. Kell was held by Rev. Maury Norman.

Rev. Hays had been pastor in Chattanooga since 1950. He had served other pastorates at New Holland, Ill., Jackson, Tenn., (1928-32), and Cleveland, Tenn., (1932-36).

Survivors include two sons, Paul Hays of Cleveland, and Matlock Hays of Knoxville. Mrs. Hays was a sister of Rev. Charles R. Matlock, pastor of the Edgefield church, Nashville.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, May 12, 1953, page 3]

Rev. T. N. Hays, who with his wife, died in an auto accident April 29 in Florida, used for the subjects of his last two sermons on April 26: "Living in Two Worlds," and "Not for a Time but Forever." (See cover of April 21 CP.) This day was his 69th birthday and his church had given him and Mrs. Hays the vacation trip as a birthday gift. The funeral was conducted by Rev. David McGregor and Rev. J. Fred Johnson.
(See obituary on page 15.)
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, May 26, 1953, page 3]

Rev. and Mrs. T. N. Hays, Tennessee
Thaddeus Newton Hays was born April 26, 1884. Mrs. Estelle Barbara Matlock Hays was born May 11, 1895. They were united in marriage in 1914.

Death cam simultaneously and instantly to the couple Wednesday, April 29 near Brooksville, Florida. Rev. and Mrs. Hays were on a vacation with Mr. and Mrs. Kell. Mr. Kell was an elder in the North Red Bank Congregation. All four were killed.

Rev. Hays was educated at Union University at Jackson, Tennessee, and Bethel College, McKenzie, Tennessee. He received the Doctor of Divinity Degree from the People's National University at Atlanta, Georgia. He was ordained by Madison Presbytery of West Tennessee Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He preached his first sermon at the age of 21 in his home Church in Beacon, Tennessee on the subject "I now pay my vows unto the Lord." His last sermons were preached in his pulpit at the North Red Bank Congregation April 26, which was his 69 birthday, and was a day of celebration.

His subject at the morning service was "Living In Two Worlds" and for the evening "Not For a Time But Forever." During the years of his pastorate, the following churches were served in this order: Claybrook, Tennessee, Owensville, Ind., New London, Ill., Maple Springs and New Salem, Tennessee, Marshall, Missouri, Jackson, Tennessee, Cleveland, Tennessee, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Oliver Springs, Tennessee, and the North Red Bank church.

Rev. and Mrs. Hays are survived by two sons, Mr. Paul Hays of Cleveland, Tennessee and Matlock Hays of Knoxville, Tennessee and four grandchildren, Bob, Joe, Linda and Bill.

Rev. Hays has two brothers, John Hays and Victor Hays and one sister, Mrs. Lissie Bowman.

Mrs. Hays is survived by four brothers, M. H. Matlock, Dr. C. R. Matlock, H. F. Matlock, and J. J. Matlock. Mrs. Hays was a co-worker in the duties of her husband and was as active in the work of the church as her husband.

When the wreck was found, a Bible was on the seat in front and another in the back. A remark was made by the investigating patrolman that he knew these people were Christians before they were identified.
                                              --David McGregor
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, May 26, 1953, page 15]

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1953, page 151]

Thaddeus Newton Hays, known as T. N., was pastor of the Cleveland Church from March 6, 1932, until April 11, 1938. a native of Beacon, Tennessee, he was born on April 26, 1884. He attended public schools in West Tennessee and Bethel College in McKenzie, Tennessee.

Hays married Estelle Matlock of Beech Bluff, Tennessee. She was the sister of Dr. C. R. Matlock, pastor of the Cleveland Church from 1917 until 1923. They were the parents of two sons, Matlock D. who married Wanda McDaris and Paul N. who married Juanita Harris, both of Cleveland, Tennessee. Matlock was a successful businessman in Centre, Alabama, and Paul was a Senior Vice President of the Cleveland National Bank, which later became First American of Cleveland. Paul has been a member of the Cleveland Church since moving to Cleveland with his father and has served as a deacon and is presently an elder in the local church.

The Rev. Mr. Hays was pastor of the North Red Bank Church in Hamilton County at the time of his death. He and Mrs. Hays died in an automobile accident in Florida on April 29, 1953. The North Red Bank Church's name was later changed to Hays Memorial.

Mr. Hays was active in community affairs. He conducted worship services for the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Bradley County Workhouse, supported the local pastors' association, joining them in opposing Sunday picture shows, and was an active Rotarian who attended many Rotary conventions.

The Rev. Mr. Hays supported and was active in denominational affairs. He preached at St. James, the local black Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1933 and 1937. He also invited the St. James pastor to participate in the 100th birthday celebration of the Cleveland Church.

Great emphasis was place on revivals during Mr. Hays' pastorate. In 1933 he cooperated in a city-wide revival sponsored by Dr. Bob Jones and students. The church received eleven members from the revival. Dr. J. Fred Johnson of Chattanooga conducted revivals in 1936 and 1937. Dr. Johnson used his big tent for the 1937 revival which was "pitched" at the corner of Central Avenue and Parker Street.
[Source: History of The First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cleveland, Tennessee 1837-1987. Edited by Ann Morelock and Katharine Trewhitt. Cleveland, Tennessee, 1989, pages 228-229]