In Memory of Martha Hayes

24 November 1953 - 2 November 2000

Martha Hayes was one of the earliest members of the Rock Creek Morris Women. She served twice as squire and a thousand times as ringleader, ale planner, and gung-ho dancer. Her propensity for rising before the chickens to bake muffins for everyone at the team's Quail Ale precipitated her marriage to morris man Jim Lewis (but you should ask him for that story). When, in the middle of practice, no one else could remember how a dance went, Martha always could. She was brainy (a hydrologist by profession) and unerringly practical, but she was also very funny, and she knew the value of being silly.

Martha died in November 2000 after a second battle with breast cancer. Rock Creek, in kit, danced a dance of her authorship at her funeral and served as her pallbearers. The team will not be the same without her. We dedicate this page to her memory.

(79K) 640 x 409 Members of Rock Creek's Northwest side proudly display the oft-won trophy for best "drill team" in the Takoma Park (Maryland) Fourth of July Parade. L to R: Charlotte Baylon, Terry Lunn, Aldona Joseph, Sally Lackman, Mary Chor, Louise Neu, Jenni Voorhees, Martha, and Joyce Harrell.
(91K) 501 x 480 Martha with Alice Taylor and Aldona Joseph on Rock Creek's 1992 trip to England, where the team was hosted by Kern Morris of Durham and Knighton Morris of Leicester.

Rock Creek show dance on Elliott Street at the Malboro Morris Ale in 1988. L to R: Alice Taylor, Martha, Sharon McKinley, Aldona Joseph.
(84K) 480 x 537 Morris sisters: Martha and Alice, on tour in New England-at Ha' Penny's Ph'ome, we think.
(78K) 480 x 638

(80K) 480 x 553 Alice and Martha somewhere in England during RC's England Tour 2000. Martha had spent the previous winter planning this trip for the team and undergoing chemotherapy. A brilliant, methodical organizer, she arranged many fine details-including chances to dance in the villages from which both of RC's main traditions come: Ducklington and Leafield (Fieldtown).She was also a strong, determined woman who made up her mind that she would be well enough to take this trip she was planning-and she did it.
(90K) 606 x 480 Martha gets in touch with the mysteries of a stone in the great stone circle at Avebury. England, July 2000.

Martha met husband Jim Lewis, then a Greenwich Morris man, at RC's Quail Ale. They proceeded to allow morris fertility ritual to work its magic. Here, Martha takes care of the resulting Noah Eben Lewis. "Auntie Alice" awaits her turn to hold Noah. 1995.
(96K) 480 x 634 Martha belonged to many social circles. Two of them overlap here, where she is sandwiched between fellow Wellesley alumni Beth Hodgeson of Court Square Garland and Stave (Charlottesville, Va.) and [can anyone identify this woman?].
(79K) 640 x 453

(85K) 438 x 640 To heck with the kit police, Martha always made the most of the chance to be debonair that is offered by the wearing of a costume.
(98K) 640 x 451 Martha introduces Rock Creek's Saturday morning show dance at a Marlboro Morris Ale. Musician: Terry Lunn. Dancers, l to r: Alice Taylor, Louise Neu, Sandra Howard, Martha Nolan, Mary Chor, and Martha.

Martha carries the Rock Creek banner. YES, we wore skirts. We got over it. You can too.
(60K) 367 x 640 One of the infamous Rock Creek clotheslines that decorate the lane to Quailhill Farm whenever Rock Creek's Quail Ale is under way there.
(114K) 640 x 473

(85K) 629 x 480 Alice, Martha, and Jill Lawrenz at a Rock Creek crab feast.
(96K) 636 x 480 Martha, in yellow, helping us get that sticking right at one of Rock Creek's all-day dance retreats. L to R: Martha, Jenni, Aldona, Adare Durning, Terry.

Martha exposes her face (but little else) to the camera as she waves from a float full of naked morris dancers at the Quail Hill pond.
(85K) 640 x 409 There's that fashion flair again.
(93K) 480 x 480

(80K) 427 x 640 Martha had a passion for the dance.
(85K) 407 x 680 Flick and float 'em, Mar.

Rock Creek poses with Ha' Penny Morris, circa 1985. Martha is in the big hat (of course).
(111K) 612 x 480 Martha with teammate Jill Lawrenz.
(79K) 587 x 480

(79K) 640 x 419 Mar, with husband Jim Lewis and Mary Sing.
(79K) 413 x 640 Jim, Martha, and Noah during a Rock Creek gig at the Maryland Renaissance Fair. Circa 1996.

Martha, Jim, and Noah in England, July 2000.
(78K) 419 x 640 Jim and Martha flying Virgin Atlantic on the way home from Rock Creek's England Tour 2000.
(63K) 640 x 378

(80K) 480 x 596 Louise and Martha.
(72K) 530 x 480 Behold the Queen (Mar in yellow wig) in the mummer's play at Quailhill Farm's annual Twelfth Night party. Martha's zest for theatrics was often key to Rock Creek skits.

Only her hairdresser knows for sure.
(78K) 440 x 640 Our Mar.
(80K) 460 x 640

(78K) 383 x 640 Ever the shy retiring type: Martha flicks her hanks while piggyback on Bluemont Morris's fool, Michael Garcia.
(78K) 535 x 480 Our Mar again.

"ALL IN" in Poole, England, at the Dorset Buttons Weekend of Dance, July 2000. Martha has the patch on her vest. After a winter of wretched chemotherapy, she went to England AND DANCED.
(94K) 480 x 638 At Swannage while on tour with Great Western Morris during the Dorset Buttons Weekend of Dance, July 2000.
(87K) 420 x 640

(88K) 640 x 463 A jaunty maid. On tour with Knighton Morris in Leicester in 1992.
(92K) 533 x 480 "Back in the day"-the only American morris team dancing in skirts, circa 1985. Martha is center, with ponytail. Others, l to r: Liz Knapp, Mary Chor, Jenni Voorhees.

Here's Martha (braided pigtails), being reserved again. Women, l to r: Mary Ellsworth, Mary Sing, Louise Neu, Carol Kelly, Jill Lawrenz, Alice Taylor, Joyce Harrell, Martha, Liz Knapp, Jenni Voorhees.
(91K) 640 x 398 Martha had ENTHUSIASM and a strong sense of loyalty and duty. She volunteered for everything-including "Work Day" at Quailhill Farm, when Rock Creekers give labor in thanks to farm owners Elizabeth and Peter for their hospitality to the Quail Ale. L to R: Terry's kids Jason and Elbereth, Mary Sing, Mary Chor, Terry Lunn, Wendy Bell, Martha, and Louise Neu.
(107K) 640 x 440

(83K) 475 x 640 Rock Creek upstairs: Martha is in the lower righthand corner.
(76K) 383 x 640 Squire Martha giving directions at a Quail Ale.

Martha and Marte Clarke during a performance at the Washington Folk Festival, circa 1985.
(95K) 413 x 640 Higher! Higher!
(74K) 444 x 640

(98K) 456 x 640 Martha "The Babe" Hayes leads a motley crew to the fields for a little ancient fertility ritual dancing.
(71K) 640 x 465 Again with the fancy head gear.

Martha, dancing.
(89K) 453 x 640 From the Nation's Capital: Dancing at the Washington Monument. Martha is far right.
(89K) 486 x 480

(86K) 503 x 480 Near the White House, probably during Foggy Bottom Morris's May Day tour.
(102K) 477 x 640 "Is that a tree limb in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" Martha (left) and Cecily Pilzer do Rock Creek's special edition of a Border dance.

This page created on a Macintosh using PhotoPage by John A. Vink.

This page is maintained by Curt Harpold

(curt@uswet.com)

(79K) 640 x 409	Members of Rock Creek's Northwest side proudly display the oft-won trophy for best "drill team" in the Takoma Park (Maryland) Fourth of July Parade. L to R: Charlotte Baylon, Terry Lunn, Aldona Joseph, Sally Lackman, Mary Chor, Louise Neu, Jenni Voorhees, Martha, and Joyce Harrell.	(91K) 501 x 480	Martha with Alice Taylor and Aldona Joseph on Rock Creek's 1992 trip to England, where the team was hosted by Kern Morris of Durham and Knighton Morris of Leicester.
Rock Creek show dance on Elliott Street at the Malboro Morris Ale in 1988. L to R: Alice Taylor, Martha, Sharon McKinley, Aldona Joseph.	(84K) 480 x 537	Morris sisters: Martha and Alice, on tour in New England-at Ha' Penny's Ph'ome, we think.	(78K) 480 x 638
(80K) 480 x 553	Alice and Martha somewhere in England during RC's England Tour 2000. Martha had spent the previous winter planning this trip for the team and undergoing chemotherapy. A brilliant, methodical organizer, she arranged many fine details-including chances to dance in the villages from which both of RC's main traditions come: Ducklington and Leafield (Fieldtown).She was also a strong, determined woman who made up her mind that she would be well enough to take this trip she was planning-and she did it.	(90K) 606 x 480	Martha gets in touch with the mysteries of a stone in the great stone circle at Avebury. England, July 2000.
Martha met husband Jim Lewis, then a Greenwich Morris man, at RC's Quail Ale. They proceeded to allow morris fertility ritual to work its magic. Here, Martha takes care of the resulting Noah Eben Lewis. "Auntie Alice" awaits her turn to hold Noah. 1995.	(96K) 480 x 634	Martha belonged to many social circles. Two of them overlap here, where she is sandwiched between fellow Wellesley alumni Beth Hodgeson of Court Square Garland and Stave (Charlottesville, Va.) and [can anyone identify this woman?].	(79K) 640 x 453
(85K) 438 x 640	To heck with the kit police, Martha always made the most of the chance to be debonair that is offered by the wearing of a costume.	(98K) 640 x 451	Martha introduces Rock Creek's Saturday morning show dance at a Marlboro Morris Ale. Musician: Terry Lunn. Dancers, l to r: Alice Taylor, Louise Neu, Sandra Howard, Martha Nolan, Mary Chor, and Martha.
Martha carries the Rock Creek banner. YES, we wore skirts. We got over it. You can too.	(60K) 367 x 640	One of the infamous Rock Creek clotheslines that decorate the lane to Quailhill Farm whenever Rock Creek's Quail Ale is under way there.	(114K) 640 x 473
(85K) 629 x 480	Alice, Martha, and Jill Lawrenz at a Rock Creek crab feast.	(96K) 636 x 480	Martha, in yellow, helping us get that sticking right at one of Rock Creek's all-day dance retreats. L to R: Martha, Jenni, Aldona, Adare Durning, Terry.
Martha exposes her face (but little else) to the camera as she waves from a float full of naked morris dancers at the Quail Hill pond.	(85K) 640 x 409	There's that fashion flair again.	(93K) 480 x 480
(80K) 427 x 640	Martha had a passion for the dance.	(85K) 407 x 680	Flick and float 'em, Mar.
Rock Creek poses with Ha' Penny Morris, circa 1985. Martha is in the big hat (of course).	(111K) 612 x 480	Martha with teammate Jill Lawrenz.	(79K) 587 x 480
(79K) 640 x 419	Mar, with husband Jim Lewis and Mary Sing.	(79K) 413 x 640	Jim, Martha, and Noah during a Rock Creek gig at the Maryland Renaissance Fair. Circa 1996.
Martha, Jim, and Noah in England, July 2000.	(78K) 419 x 640	Jim and Martha flying Virgin Atlantic on the way home from Rock Creek's England Tour 2000.	(63K) 640 x 378
(80K) 480 x 596	Louise and Martha.	(72K) 530 x 480	Behold the Queen (Mar in yellow wig) in the mummer's play at Quailhill Farm's annual Twelfth Night party. Martha's zest for theatrics was often key to Rock Creek skits.
Only her hairdresser knows for sure.	(78K) 440 x 640	Our Mar.	(80K) 460 x 640
(78K) 383 x 640	Ever the shy retiring type: Martha flicks her hanks while piggyback on Bluemont Morris's fool, Michael Garcia.	(78K) 535 x 480	Our Mar again.
"ALL IN" in Poole, England, at the Dorset Buttons Weekend of Dance, July 2000. Martha has the patch on her vest. After a winter of wretched chemotherapy, she went to England AND DANCED.	(94K) 480 x 638	At Swannage while on tour with Great Western Morris during the Dorset Buttons Weekend of Dance, July 2000.	(87K) 420 x 640
(88K) 640 x 463	A jaunty maid. On tour with Knighton Morris in Leicester in 1992.	(92K) 533 x 480	"Back in the day"-the only American morris team dancing in skirts, circa 1985. Martha is center, with ponytail. Others, l to r: Liz Knapp, Mary Chor, Jenni Voorhees.
Here's Martha (braided pigtails), being reserved again. Women, l to r: Mary Ellsworth, Mary Sing, Louise Neu, Carol Kelly, Jill Lawrenz, Alice Taylor, Joyce Harrell, Martha, Liz Knapp, Jenni Voorhees.	(91K) 640 x 398	Martha had ENTHUSIASM and a strong sense of loyalty and duty. She volunteered for everything-including "Work Day" at Quailhill Farm, when Rock Creekers give labor in thanks to farm owners Elizabeth and Peter for their hospitality to the Quail Ale. L to R: Terry's kids Jason and Elbereth, Mary Sing, Mary Chor, Terry Lunn, Wendy Bell, Martha, and Louise Neu.	(107K) 640 x 440
(83K) 475 x 640	Rock Creek upstairs: Martha is in the lower righthand corner.	(76K) 383 x 640	Squire Martha giving directions at a Quail Ale.
Martha and Marte Clarke during a performance at the Washington Folk Festival, circa 1985.	(95K) 413 x 640	Higher! Higher!	(74K) 444 x 640
(98K) 456 x 640	Martha "The Babe" Hayes leads a motley crew to the fields for a little ancient fertility ritual dancing.	(71K) 640 x 465	Again with the fancy head gear.
Martha, dancing.	(89K) 453 x 640	From the Nation's Capital: Dancing at the Washington Monument. Martha is far right.	(89K) 486 x 480
(86K) 503 x 480	Near the White House, probably during Foggy Bottom Morris's May Day tour.	(102K) 477 x 640	"Is that a tree limb in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" Martha (left) and Cecily Pilzer do Rock Creek's special edition of a Border dance.