Deborah Osler Hayes' Obituary
Elder Deborah Osler-Hayes, the second daughter of six children born to the late James and Eva Mae (Gaiter) Jones, was born on April 11, 1953 on the Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. She was united in holy matrimony to the late Minister Roynold Wilson Osler (1988). This union was blessed by their two joys, sons, Pastor Zichri Debron Osler (Kimberly) and Zimri Debron Osler, as well as two children in love, Jay Osler (Jan) and Kortni Renea Osler, and their grandchildren; Power and Legend Osler. Her beautiful life will be cherished by her loving husband, Kenneth Hayes; siblings, Judy Hughes, Sharon Ward (Robert), Rodney J. Jones (Gwendelyn), Ronnie Jones (Liz), Cris Jones (Jennifer),Tawanda Jones Hurley (Fred),10 nieces and nephews; and a host of cousins, family and friends; all of whom will treasure her memory forever.
After graduating from Bloomington High School, Deborah's dream was to travel the world as a musical artist in a band. While pursuing music, she graduated with a B.A. in Education from Illinois State University. Her education degree was paramount in her lifelong pursuit as a dynamic teacher. Her professions included a manager at IBM, a school and church administrator at Light of the World Christian Academy, a Graduate Advisor at Georgia Perimeter College, a Business Analyst Trainer at State Farm Insurance, and an Audit Manager at State Farm Arena.
Deborah professed her faith in Jesus Christ at the age of 10 and was baptized at Union Baptist Church by Reverend A. K. Surrett. It was at this church that her gift and love for singing was first recognized and nurtured through the direction of her choir director and cousin Georgia May Brooks. Impressed by the direction of the Holy Spirit to pursue her passion of singing, she developed an insatiable desire to follow after Christ. Thus began an incredible legacy of love that led her to teach, preach, intercede, prophecy, and sing around the world. Deborah's dream became the reality of God's calling on her life to cross borders for the praise and exaltation of Jesus Christ. Many of her crusades were accomplished while remaining faithful to her home church under the leadership of the late Bishop Jimmie Lee Smith and Pastor Ruth W. Smith of Light of the World Christian Tabernacle International (LOTW).
As a founding member and pillar of the LOTW, Deborah was ordained as an Elder in 19XX and served in its presbytery. She was instrumental in developing and leading several ministries at LOTW including Worship Arts, Dance, Sign, Counseling, Audio Visual and Sound, and Sunday School. She was the ministry leader for the Praise and Worship team, Ministers, and the School of Prophets. Under the direction of Bishop Jimmie Lee Smith, she sang backup for the album In Moments Like These.
True to her nature as a charismatic teacher, many can attest that Deborah's gift was to encourage the body of Christ to walk in their ministry gifts just as she had. She often mused that the meaning of her name stemmed from a Hebrew word meaning "bee", to provoke. Therefore, the impact of her effective teaching has inspired and provoked the lives of many to walk with the Lord. Her gifts afforded her opportunities to minister throughout the east coast for the Christian Women in Action in Ohio to churches in Brazil, Germany, Africa, England, the Cayman Islands, and Jamaica.
In her later years, she served as a teacher and singer for New Covenant Christian Ministries under the leadership of Pastor Billy and DeAnn Johnson.
As a wife, she will be remembered as a virtuous woman. As a mother, she will be remembered for her unconditional love. As a friend, she will be remembered as a woman of faith and strength. As a child of God, the purpose of her ministry gifts have been accomplished here on earth. The Father sweetly called her home to rest on Wednesday, October 6, 2021. For all who knew and witnessed the Christian walk of Deborah J. Osler-Hayes, we are assured that she was a good and faithful servant who now dwells in the house of the Lord forever.
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