Chad Haywood, III

Haywood III, Chadwick (Chad) Buford 9/27/1945 - 2/14/2022 Greenville, SC Chadwick (Chad) Buford Haywood III, 76, passed away peacefully on February 14, 2022, after an eighteen-month battle with cancer with his family by his side. Chad was born in Kansas City, Missouri on September 27, 1945, to Chadwick and Kathryn June Haywood (Griesheimer). He moved with his mother and siblings to Battle Creek, MI, in the spring of 1963. He later graduated from Battle Creek St. Phillip High School in 1965. Soon after graduation he started working for the Battle Creek Gas Company where he would continue a distinguished career for the next 30 years. Chad believed in helping others less fortunate and as a result became involved in several organizations dedicated to helping improve quality of life of fellow members of his wider community. He served as the vice-president of the Battle Creek Jaycees, was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Battle Creek, as well as a member of the Battle Creek Elks Lodge 131. In his retirement years, Chad kept himself busy with a regular diet of golf (both on the course and TV), discussing the merits of Notre Dame and Michigan State football, and spending winters in Florida. He had recently moved to South Carolina to enjoy the remainder of his retirement years with the love of his life, Joyce Haywood. He loved to cook with Joyce --they had matching aprons. He taught his three sons the merits of a good pork roast and a rack of ribs. He also enjoyed listening to the wonderful music of his youth including Otis Redding, the Doobie Brothers, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett among others. Chad had the gift of gab powered by a wonderful sense of humor and a willing and easy smile. His sons would often complain, in that teen-age way that teenagers are so good at, that they couldn't go anywhere with him without stopping to talk to ten people. Later in life his sons would realize the reason he stopped to talk was because he was incredibly proud of each of them and wanted to tell everyone he knew about them. He was proud of his family and loved them dearly. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Joyce (Fassezke) Haywood, sister Catherine (Haywood) Zaleski, twin brother Charles Haywood, brother Joseph Frost, and sons Chadwick Haywood IV, Patrick Haywood, and David Haywood. Chad also is survived by eight beautiful grandchildren. The family is planning a celebration of life in Chad's honor to take place sometime in summer 2022 in Kalamazoo, MI. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider a donation in Chad's name to the St. Philip High School Tuition Assistance Fund, Battle Creek, MI, or St. Augustine Cathedral, Kalamazoo, MI.