Local military hero Fayne Haynes passed away shortly after 8:00 o'clock Saturday (6/18/2016) evening at Vanderbilt Medical Center. He was age 94, and a decorated Army veteran, who fought in the famous Battle of the Bulge and was a prisoner of war during World War II.
Fayne Haynes served in the U.S. Army's 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion, B Company, and was sent into action on D-Day, when he began destroying Hitler's tanks. He fought in the densely forested Ardennes region of Europe in the Battle of the Bulge. After months of fighting on the front-line, Haynes and his team were captured by the Germans.
During that time he suffered a severe leg wound, but the enemy forced him to walk 80-miles to a Prisoner of War camp where he sent 4-months. Another prisoner slipped him a German map and compass. Fayne planned his escape and walked to freedom.
He later received several commendations for his bravery, including the Purple Heart.
After that, it was almost two-decades before he even spoke about his time in the military as a POW.
When he returned home, Fayne and his brother started Haynes Brothers Candy Company in Murfreesboro. It served this region for more than 50 years. Mr. Haynes was a creative businessman who revolutionized the candy business with refrigerated delivery trucks as well as specially designed conveyor belts to move product from storage to waiting delivery trucks. Haynes Brothers Candy Company was spotlighted in numerous trade publications for its innovative approach to business.
Fayne Haynes loved this community and was heavily involved for many years in the Murfreesboro Christmas Parade. During the days when his candy company was in business, he had a large trailer constructed on which Santa rode each year. From that special float, Mr. Haynes gave the children in the community large quantities of the best chocolate bars available.
In addition, Mr. Haynes was heavily involved in Murfreesboro's Veterans Day ceremonies each year, and regularly carried the POW flag at that event. (Photo below was Fayne Haynes at the November 11, 2015 Veterans Day Ceremony on the Murfreesboro square)
After selling his candy business, he kept the building on Lytle Street and opened Haynes Flag Company, which also became a local World War II museum.
Funeral Information
Visitation 4:00 to 7:00PM Monday evening, June 20, 2016, and funeral service will be 10:30AM Tuesday morning, June 21, 2016, both at Woodfin Funeral Chapel, Lascassas Pike with Brother David Young and Brother Tony Holt officiating. Burial will follow in Hazel Cemetery, Bell Buckle, TN, with military honors.
Memorials in memory of Mr. Haynes may be made to the charity of your choice. CLICK HERE for the complete obituary.
His wife Beatrice Croslin Haynes passed away at age 90 on March 3, 2013. That was just a few months after the couple celebrated their 70th anniversary.
Fayne Haynes is survived by two sons, Don Haynes and his wife Eileen, and Melvin Haynes; two daughters, Janice Bellamy and her husband Jim, all of Murfreesboro, Anita Stanley and her husband Randy of Hixson, TN; 12 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, and several nieces and nephews.
He was a lifelong member of North Boulevard Church of Christ.
Fayne Haynes was on WGNS with Truman Jones October 5, 2012. . .
CLICK BELOW to hear that radio interview
Fayne Haynes was also on WGNS with Truman Jones November 9, 2012. . .
CLICK BELOW to hear that radio interview
Please make your tributes to Fayne Haynes by using the FaceBook link below or e-mail your thoughts to news@wgnsradio.com. Also, feel free to "share" this story on FaceBook.
Fayne Hayes was patriotic and generous. He donated flags for my son, Aaron Browning's Eagle Scout project for Troop 398 at St Mark's United Methodist Church. We listened to his amazing stories and visited his museum. He was what makes America great. Thank God we have men and women like him who protect our nation and world from harm on foreign soil and return home to help make it a better place. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. God Bless
Mike Browning
