Rarely in my vocational journey have I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow Christian traveler for whom giving provided such profound joy. The Rev. Jane Hays was such a pilgrim. She gave from the heart. During her life, Jane’s generosity touched countless lives and left a legacy of love.
I met Jane in 2012, about a year after the death of her second husband, Bill Hays. Visiting with her in her modest Denver home always promised unexpected delights. Because Jane had the gift of hospitality, she usually served lunch in the garden room at the back of her house, as we spoke about our mutual passion for justice, particularly, for Jane, advocacy for women and children.
On one visit, we were joined by colleagues from Presbyterian World Mission. Jane was interested in World Mission’s work of eradicating systemic poverty globally, particularly for women and children. Jane’s late husband, Bill, had given her shares of Colgate Palmolive stock she wished to sell, with the intention of giving half to Presbyterian World Mission and splitting the remainder between two of her other passions in Colorado, the Lakewood Youth Center and Highlands Presbyterian Camp & Retreat Center. Since she intended for her gift to be at least $500,000, she said, if necessary, she would supplement the stock sale with a cash gift. The sale ultimately resulted in a gift to Presbyterian World Mission for just over $503,000.
When we expressed our deep gratitude for her generosity, she smiled. The wealth was not really hers, she said, “I am merely the agent, and I receive such joy from giving.” After Jane died in 2017, her estate provided funds to Highlands that made it possible for the camp to retire its mortgage.
When I reflect on Jane’s life, I recall her love of God, Christ’s church, family, community and neighbors.
From her involvement in Christian Endeavor as a young woman, where she met her first husband, Jim Huff, Jane developed an interest in working with young people. After miscarrying twice, she and Jim adopted three children. Their call to serve God led Jim to Louisville Seminary at age 40. Following his graduation, they accepted a call to serve the Presbyterian Church in Princeton, Kentucky, where Jim was pastor for only 3½ years before the chronic and debilitating consequences of diabetes forced his early retirement. Jane, Jim and their three children relocated to Winter Park, Florida. Soon after their move, Jim died following a long and painful illness, leaving Jane to raise their children alone. It was this experience that deepened Jane’s devotion to addressing the needs of women and children.
Five years after Jim’s death, Jane met and married Bill Hays, who had proposed to her as they both placed lilies on the cross during Easter worship at the Presbyterian Church in Winter Park. They moved to Colorado, where Jane entered Iliff Theological Seminary at age 55, later becoming one of the first women pastors ordained in the Presbytery of Denver. She once told me there were at least two before her. Her first call was as parish associate at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Lakewood, where she served until her retirement in 1995.
In my role in Mission Engagement and Support, I still have much to learn from Jane’s work and witness. She has inspired me to give more generously, and to never shy away from asking others about their passion for giving. This is how we are each called to live our lives. And, as Jane once told me, “The answer is always no if you don’t ask.”
René Myers is the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s mission engagement advisor for the West region, Synods of the Rocky Mountains, Alaska-Northwest, Pacific, Southern California and Hawaii. Contact her at rene.myers@pcusa.org or 951-214-2679.