Mildred Hayes

Mildred Louise Hayes, 78, of Gulfport died Saturday, September 23, 2006 in Gulfport.
She was a native of Cisco, TX and was raised in Little Rock, AR by her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Burks where she received her B.A. in Foreign Languages at Arkansas State Teachers College. Mrs. Hayes finished her degree in 3 years and was Valedictorian of her class.
She moved to the Washington D.C. area in 1952 to work for the National Security Agency and spent her career as a Russian Cryptologist during the Cold War decrypting Russian codes related to the espionage activities of the Rosenburgs and Kim Philby among others. Her work on these secret activities was featured in a public television special and several magazine articles.
She later received a M.A. in Russian Language and Linguistics from George Washington University and then retired from the NSA in the late 1980's.
Mrs. Hayes spoke several other languages and spent her time reading and doing crossword and number puzzles. She enjoyed traveling, ballet, theater and the arts.
She moved to Gulfport, MS in December 2005 with her daughter Sharon Hayes, who transferred to an office with the Environmental Protection Agency at Stennis Space Center to help with recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Hayes, a brother, Jimmy Jordan, a special caregiver, Connie Campbell, her canine companion, Leo, special friends Bonnie Pick and Regina Kietzer, and many loving relatives and friends.
The funeral service will be 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 26, 2006 at Gulf Coast Funeral Home, Three Rivers Road Chapel. Friends may visit 1 hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be sent to MHG Hospice, P.O. Box 1810, Gulfport, MS 39502.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.gulfcoastfh.com