Nina Hairston

Nina Mae Hairston, daughter of the late Walter and Susan Conyers, was born April 7, 1948 in Manning, South Carolina. She departed this life after battling a long illness on January 27, 2024. Nina received her early education in Manning, S.C. before moving to Coatesville, Pennsylvania with her siblings at the age of 13. After briefly living in Coatesville, the family relocated to Baltimore, Maryland where she continued her studies in the Baltimore City Public School System. Nina met Carl Hairston in 1991. They were married in 1996. Carl always said, "Nina was the best thing that ever happened to me!" Her physical absence will surely be missed. Nina had various work experiences throughout the years, which made for interesting dinner table conversation. Some were take-aways for life lessons. Others were humorous and pure comedy. Whether it was volunteering before starting at Social Security, stories about Sparrows Point (The Point), or countless Mass Transit Authority (MTA)-(retired after 25 years of service) stories, all were memorable and left an impression. Nina accepted Christ early in life, then rededicated her life at St. Paul Community Baptist Church where she served as Deaconess. She also became a member of Greater New Hope Baptist Church where she served on the Pastor's Aid ministry. Through trials and tribulations, she frequently recited scriptures; Psalm 23, Philippians 4:13, and Proverbs 3:5 & 6. She believed that professing these words encouraged trust, hope, guidance, protection, strength, and courage. So much so, that she enforced that her grandchildren learned it and held them accountable for memorizing it, for they would surely need it. Nina enjoyed traveling, playing cards, spending time with family, and watching professional football. If a game was on, she was sure to be watching to cheer on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, or the Baltimore Ravens. Nina had strong affinity for the importance of family ties. She always preached that family connections and staying together were important. Throughout the years, she arranged various family outings to build strong bonds and create memories. Nina was a no-nonsense kind of woman. She was stern, fair, loving, and a true consistent disciplinarian. In the early years or the "good ole days" her house hosted many impromptu gatherings or sleepovers for cousins to meet up. It's a running joke that staying over her house denoted "will work for food"- meaning that you were sure to be fed well but there was a task to complete and you were going to lend a hand. The seventh of twelve children, Nina professed herself to be wise. An honor bestowed upon her by her mother. Before being orphaned, Nina's time with her own mom helped to develop skills/traits of maturity, nurturer, and cook. Intimate time with her mom planted deep rooted seeds that were substantial in planting nuggets for her own children to carry on. She would recite, "A mother-less child sees a hard time, when momma's gone" and "One of us is going to leave this earth and leave the other one broken hearted"-all in preparation for what was to come. Nina remained high-spirited throughout her illness. She was steadfast in prayer and had an unwavering faith in God's healing powers. If you were in her space, you were immediately impacted by her positive outlook. Nina the 7th child, was born the 7th day and was the 7th of her siblings to leave this earth. This significance was paralleled in her focus of staying positive and having faith in God's process. Nina was proceeded in death by siblings Susan, Walter Jr., Willie, Frank, Lizzie, and Michael. Son, Darryl; Stepson, Cory; and three grandchildren. She leaves to cherish her memory: her husband Carl; two daughters, Angela Thompson and Tamika Missouri (Myron); one son, Stacy Thompson; one step son, Michael Black; three step daughters Carol Sonya, and Monica; two Sisters, Mary Williams (Jerome) and Leola Conyers-Jenkins; three Brothers, Clarence Conyers (Eleanor), Tommie and James Conyers; two sisters-in-law, Phyllis Morning and Constance Allen; dedicated friend/sister, Jacqueline Taylor (Otis), grandchildren, great grandchildren, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Tributes

Nina Hairston

April 7, 1948 - January 27, 2024