FCNL/AFSC/Prison Reform/Obituary

Services set for Edith Haynes
Whittier Daily News/Whittier/CA/USA/30-Jun-05
.. In Alhambra, Haynes pioneered team teaching and the program for educationally handicapped students, which received state, national, and international recognition.

Aside from teaching, a common thread throughout Haynes' life was her compassion toward others. Working with organizations such as Friends Committee on Legislation of California, American Friends Service Committee, Friends Committee on National Legislation (Washington), First Friends Church of Whittier and Southern Prison Alternatives Coalition.

She was often referred to as a "super volunteer.' She was particularly concerned with criminal justice, juvenile justice, death penalty, peace and non-violence issues.

Winnie McFarland wrote in a 1981 Whittier Daily News article about Haynes being an "official prison visitor for 28 years.' The article said her husband also had been visiting prisons for the same length of time. They both were deeply involved in issues of crime and punishment.

A 1997 Whittier Daily News story by Jason Leopold reported that Haynes had been visiting convicts at California prisons for more than 40 years, including death row inmates at San Quentin.

Also in 1997, Haynes became a 50-year member of the American Association of University Women and was nominated by First Friends Church to receive the AAUW Las Distinguidas Award, which she was presented that year.

Edith is survived by her husband, Gerald; and three children: son Eric, daughter-in-law Kim and grandson Brett in Upland; son Roscoe, daughter-in- law Joanne and grandson Matthew in Rensselaer, N.Y.; and daughter Shamsi in Alhambra.

The family would welcome memorial contributions in Edith Haynes' name designated to the American Friends Service Committee, or Whittier First Friends Church.