Josephine Douglas

Precious Memories

Josephine Iris Douglas “Josie”

As beautiful as a rose to see, was her life she lived so gracefully. She made things precious by her touch; her selfless love lives on in each of us.

The petals of her life fell one by one; each a gift of her heart till there were none. Yet her radiance blooms once again in fields of glory with no end.

Josephine Iris Douglas was born on April 30, 1950, in Orange, Texas, to her parents, Joseph F. Hayes and Mattie Mae Hayes. Raised in Denver, Josie was the eldest of three children. Her brother, Rainey (Randy), was the middle child, and their sister, Kimberly (Kim), was the baby. A small family, granted, but mighty in love.

As a cheerleader, Josie was well known in high school. Among the best dancers, her friends admired her for having won a dance contest with Phillip Bailey, lead singer of Earth, Wind, and Fire.

Josie graduated from Manual High School in 1968, then in 1973, she married George Douglas, and from that union were two children, Jonathan and Tasha.

Later following a short stint in the U.S. Army, she continued her education, earning a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and started working towards her MBA. In her free time, she enjoyed working ceramics, macramé, sewing, cooking, and watching her favorite football team, the Denver Broncos. She will be missed by all who knew her, for to know Josie was to love her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Faniel and Mattie Mae Hayes, her sister Kimberley Ann Hayes, and nephews Joseph Hayes and Niguel Hayes.

Josephine Iris Douglas departed this life on October 19, 2021, in Aurora, Colorado. She was 71. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, George H. Douglas; her son, Jonathan D. (Angela) Hayes, all of Denver, Colorado; daughter, Tasha M. (Johnnie) Tillman of Apollo Beach, Florida; brother, Rainey (Randy) Hayes of Miami, Florida; six grandchildren, Tyler Griffie-Hayes of El Paso, Texas; Ayrn B. (Shandell) Wainwright of Denver, Colorado; Tajaia M. Tillman, and Isaiah S. Tillman both of Apollo Beach, Florida; Xavier Hayes and Tyshawn Hayes of Denver, Colorado; three great-grandchildren, Ramyiss Griffie, Zyrie Griffie, and Emory Griffie; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends