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Funeral service will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, 2929 Princess Place Drive. Visitation will be from 6-8:00 P.M. on Friday at the funeral home.

Donald Ray Haywood, son of the late Donnie Ray Flowers and Virginia McMillan was born on September 3, 1976, in New Hanover County, Wilmington, North Carolina.  Donald, one of four children departed this life on October 4, 2024.  Donald was educated in the New Hanover County Public School System, graduating from New Hanover High Schol.  He continued his education at Sampson Community College.  Donald's early training and acceptance of Christ in his life began at Warner Temple AME Zion Church in Wilmington, North Carolina.  He had many nicknames.  The first one being "Charlie Brown" because at the age of one he had a special blanket that he carried everywhere he went and would never put that blanket down.  If you took it from him he would scream and cry.  So, Grandma Annie Bell started calling him "Charlie Brown" from the Peanuts Cartoon Show.  Charlie was always a good, quiet child and always smiled from birth.  The only way you could ever tell if he was mad or upset was if he stuttered and couldn't get his words out because he smiled and laughed at everything.  He would say, "shoot man", kick his leg and suck his teeth.  We would tell him to stop, slow down and start over.  Charlie and his three siblings were always very close since babies.  He always protected his siblings.  The love they had for each other was undefiant.  He grew up going to the Boy's Club on Nixon Street where he learned many sports, with basketball being a sport he loved. He made a lot of friends at the Boy's Club, of which most if not all, still remain friends to this day.  "Charlie Brown" never met a stranger.  He was an optimist.  He always saw the good in people, believing everyone had the potential to change.  As he got older, that's when the other nicknames "Chuck", "Horse" and "LeRay" came into play, all being the same person, "Charlie Brown".  He was called "Chuck 1" for playing basketball; "Horse" when he and his best friend Man Cuttino were together and "LeRay" after his father.  Family always came first, no matter if you were immediate or extended family.  If you needed him, he was there.  Donald earned various degrees and diplomas, namely plumbing and laundry technician, etc.  Donald was a very handsome man with a smile that lit up the room and was filled with laugher, that big smile and joy.  He had a great sense of humor.  He was a jokester.  You had to have tough skin when he was around because he was going to crack jokes and make you laugh. He loved to dress nice, color coordinated from head to toe.  "Charlie" had solid friends on his team, males and females that had his back and held him accountable. He was respectful, respected and loved by many.  He loved all of his children.  The eldest, Diamond, these two shared a very special and close bond.  There was no "Charlie" without his baby girl.  They were each other's best friend.  His two sons, Tyrek and J'Ron were his right-hand young men.  He was very proud of the smart and intelligent young men they had become and was looking forward to watching them on the big screen. After meeting his wife, Cynthia Jones, he settled down and they married on October 15, 2016.  They loved each other very much.  "Charlie" served his purpose in life because he was guaranteed to make you laugh.  Laughter is good for the soul! "Charlie Brown" always gave his family and friends that special one on one time that was needed.  He had lots of friends including to ride or die friends, Shauntee Middleton and Shawn Skeeters. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by: his grandparents, David and Annie Bell Haywood and Williamina Gore and Porter Denkins; father-in-law, Rev. Samuel Johnson; aunts, Mildred Holloman, Teresa D. Green, Betty Jean Jones, Christine Richardson and Ginger Denkins; uncles, James Flowers, Larry Flowers, James Horace Jones, Melvin Jones and Willie L. Jones; nephew, Al'Quon Flowers; cousins, Laytona Hobbs, Montez Greene, Jimmy Hicks, Jr. Ro'Shad Jenkins, Charlie Smith, Jr. and Anthony Smith, and his best friend, Man Cuttino. He leaves to cherish fond memories of his life: his wife, Cynthia Jones Haywood; children, Diamond Haywood, Tyrek Haywood and J'Ron Thomas Haywood; stepson, Tyese Artis; grandchildren, De'Andre Artis and Jaceon Artis; sisters, LoKeesha Haywood and Kersha Haywood Smith (Rodney); brothers, Hakeem Gamu and Kenneth Williams (LaTonya); sister-in-law, Shauna Tapp; six brothers-in-law; special aunt, Janice James; mother-in-law, Linda Johnson; aunts, Virginia Flowers, Felbie Butler (Windell), Myra Burnett (Ronnie),  Sabrina Denkins, and Laura Denkins; uncles, Levon McMillan, Eddie Brown, Robert Gore, and Otto Green, Sr.; nieces, Niffirea Smith, A'Myracle Tuggle, Kennadi Williams, Sariyah Miller, and Zyaire Gamu; nephews, LaDrell Damon (Rose), Marquell Haywood (Shantya), Or'Man Irving, HaKeem Grady, Trindale Williams (Tirney), Lawrence Williams, Hakeem Gamu, Jr., and Jerhonson Gamu; cousins, Jimmy Hicks, Sr. (Adrienda), Michael Hicks, Otto Greene, Jr. (Carolyn), Deborah Greene Miller (Perry), Gloria Greene (Jolly), Zanika Stokley, Saquoia James, Jamie Stokley, ShaQuanna Gause, Jimeria Taylor, Tatiana Smith, LaQuetta Smith, Jaquetta Flowers. Jameka Flowers, Jasmine Flowers, Tiffany Gause, Enchantis Greene, Lyrica Greene, Asia Greene, Demetrial Harrison, Danyell Robinson, Evelyn Greene, Brittany Cooks, Gloria Bellamy, Terriq White, Marcus Greene, Maurice Greene, James Flowers, Vernell Bannerman, Lameek Stokley, Willie Lee Bellamy and Mark Walker and many friends.