A steadfast beacon and warrior for justice, Attorney Curtis Lee Hays, died on March 21, 2017.  He was 66. A native of Biloxi, Miss., Attorney Hays received his formative education at Perkins Elementary School, M.F. Nichols High School and in 1968 graduated with esteemed honors from Biloxi High School.  He was a devoted Cub Scout, Boy Scout and received the highest achievable rank in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America; The Eagle Scout.
In 1971, Curtis graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU), a private liberal arts institution in Lincoln Nebraska.  At NWU, he received a Bachelor of Science in Economics; Summa Cum Laude.  He was an outstanding student with noted memberships:  National Honor Fraternity Blue Key, National Social Science Honor Society, Omicron Delta Epsilon Economics Honorary Society and Pi Gamma Mu.  Several months after graduation from NWU, Curtis enrolled in Ole Miss Law School at the University of Mississippi in Oxford.  In1974 he was conferred the Juris Doctor degree.
Attorney Hays was duly admitted and qualified with The State of Mississippi, License to Practice Law as counselor and solicitor in all Courts of Law and Equity and The Supreme Court, State of Mississippi Attorney and Counsellor at Law. In 1975, he was named District Court Attorney and Counselor for Gulfport and Southern Mississippi and later became an active member of the Magnolia Bar Association.
Attorney Hays opened a private law office in Moss Point, Miss. and later in Biloxi, Miss.  Curtis cherished his family so he moved to his family’s home in Mendenhall, Miss. and later opened another law practice in that location. He serviced clients predominantly from central, south and coastal Mississippi.  He was faithful and true to his clients, and worked hard to bring in a verdict of righteousness with justice. Attorney Hays rarely missed a court day. He boldly stood tall and challenged injustices in and out of the courtroom.
Attorney Hays leaves to mourn a wife, Janice; daughter, Marcia J.; sister, Loretta Watson; twin brother, Johnnie C. and wife Brenda; aunts, Mary Lofton and Margell Campbell; uncles, Earl Gregory and Johnnie Hays; father and mother-in-law, Sutter and Margie Smith; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, sisters and brothers-in-law, friends and clients. His daughter, Dr. LeMika Christia Hays preceded him in death.
Visitation and expressions will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2017 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Funeral service will begin at 12 Noon at First Missionary Baptist Church, 658 Esters Boulevard, Biloxi, Miss. 39530. Memorial service will be held on Friday, March 31, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. until 12 Noon at Mary Grove Baptist Church on Mary Grove Church Road in Magee, Miss.
In lieu of flowers, please make charitable contributions to Dr. LeMika C. Hays Scholarship Endowment Fund, Tougaloo College Office of the Vice President & Institutional Advancement, 500 West County Line Road, Tougaloo, MS 39174.
Funeral services entrusted to J&M Funeral Home, 732 Dixie Ave, Mendenhall, Miss. 39114.