Kenitra Evale Hayes, age 52, of Texarkana, Texas passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 27, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Kenitra Hayes was born Sunday, July 15, 1973, in Texarkana, Texas to Frances White and Brazil Hayes. She attended College Hill Junior High School and Arkansas Senior High School. Growing up as a member of College Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Kenitra was heavily involved in the church. Her granny was a longtime Sunday school teacher and Kenitra often helped her prepare lessons. She loved to sing and showcased her angelic voice in the F- sharp Choir where she was voted “Choir Queen”. She also sung in the Young Adults Choir, and in the Mass Choir as an adult. Outside of church, she played the saxophone for her school band and enjoyed listening to R&B music. She liked doing hair, jumping double Dutch, and hanging out at the mall.

Family, friends, and singing were three of Kenitra's passions. Her children and grandchildren were her whole world, and she cherished every moment spent with them. She loved getting the family together for any occasion, whether it be a birthday, graduation, holiday, or just because, but she especially pushed for family gatherings in memory of her granny. Those that were blessed to know her may recall countless hours of singing, laughing, and crying together. Kenitra will be remembered most for her warm heart and fierce love for her family. She had a way of making everyone around her feel loved. Her spirit lives on in the memories she created and the love she poured into those closest to her.

Kenitra was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Parris Brielle Crawford and grandmother, Betty Jean Watson Jackson Richardson.

She leaves to cherish her memory her children, Demarcus Keyon Silas (Texarkana, TX) and Devonte Keyshawn Hayes and Briana Veyshell Hayes (both of Texarkana, TX); mother, Frances White; father, Brazil Hayes; grandchildren: Braylon Key’von Hayes (grandson), Londiyn Janiyah Hayes, Deniya Kelis Hayes, Lyric Keene Hayes, Patience Brielle Crawford, Paisley La'Rue  Crawford, and Peyton La'Rue Crawford; brothers, Tommy G. White Jr. and Damion White (both of Texarkana, TX), Demetrius Hayes (Benton, AR), and Eric Hayes and Chris Hayes (both of Texarkana, AR); sisters, Katina Hayes Willis and KeLisha Hayes Moore  (both of Texarkana, AR) and Teressa Flowers (Texarkana, TX); uncles, Arthur Jackson Jr. (Dallas, TX) and Pastor O. C. Hayes, Buck Hayes, and Floyd Hayes (all of Texarkana, AR); aunts, Lisa Jackson (Austin, TX) and Nadine Hayes, Elaine Hayes, and Gloria Hayes Flowers (all of Texarkana, AR); and a host of nieces, nephews, and treasured friends.