'Town Barber' Passes Away at 81

James Anthony Hayes, 81, of Little Compton, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, surrounded by his family.

He was born in Providence to Thomas Hayes and Johanna (Keohane) Hayes, both of County Cork, Ireland.

He leaves his wife of 53 years, Kathleen.  He was the loving father of ten children, Maureen and her husband Michael Harrington, Shamus and his wife Suzanne Hayes, Deirdre and her husband Louis Franchi, Emmett and his wife Bridget Hayes, Neil and his wife Jennifer Hayes, Justin and his wife Kelli Hayes, Dermot Hayes, Declan and his wife Holly Hayes, Bridget and her husband Eric Henley, and the late Brendan Hayes.  He leaves 20 grandchildren with whom he would spend all of his free time. He also leaves his brother Charles Hayes and sister Elizabeth Bouchard. He was the brother of the late Thomas, William, John, and Robert Hayes.

He was a graduate of Blessed Sacrament School in Providence. He served in the United States Navy and saw combat on the heavy cruiser USS Toledo in the Korean War Conflict from 1950-1953, and was a member of the American Legion.

Jimmy will always be remembered as Little Compton’s “Town Barber.”  For 44 years he considered himself the luckiest man in Little Compton doing the work that he loved to do, operating his own barbershop.  He formed a group that proved instrumental in saving Little Compton’s “Peckham Lot,” for recreation.  

His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 11 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church, with visitation held at Fern Acres Funeral Home on 72 Willow Avenue in Little Compton, Friday, Jan. 3, from 4-8 p.m.