Essie Haynes

Mary Essie Haynes (1893-1962) was born in Georgia to the parents of
Francis Marion and Sarah Rebecca (Gurley) Payne.

The family moved from Georgia to Texas via covered wagon around 1897
and settled near the town of Bardwell in Ellis County, Texas. The
family spent some time on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma before
arriving in Texas visiting with her grandmother who was living on the
reservation. As a young girl Essie recalled the Indian tribe helping
the family get the wagon across the Red River into Texas.

Essie married Thomas Grady Haynes. They lived in Van Zandt and Dallas
Counties. They had 8 children 3 girls and 5 boys. The two youngest
girls (Hope and Dorothy) are still living as of this writing in 2012.

Essie was known as a devout Christian and devoted mother and wife. She
is buried along side her husband at the Grove Hill Cemetery in Dallas.

Little is known of the hymns accredited to her name. She is believed
to have written the lyrics only with the music attributed to
associations with muscians she knew through her church.

The hymn Wonderful, Beautiful Mansions was dedicated to her son Robert
Haynes who was serving in the South Pacific at the time it was
published. A copy of the hymnal Humble Hearts containing the song was
in the possession of her son Garland Haynes at the time of his death
in 2011. The song was performed on guitar and vocals at his funeral
by the great grand children (Taylor and Brandi Haynes) of Essie
Haynes. It marked the first time the song had been heard by family
members.

--Jeff Haynes, grandson