Nathaniel Howard Hairston

Nathaniel H. Hairston Jr. was born to the union of Nathaniel Sr. and Jessie Mae Ingram Hairston in Winston Salem, North Carolina on December 16, 1939. It was in North Carolina where he was educated and spent the majority of his childhood, however, due to unforeseen circumstances Nathaniel would later come to live with his Great Aunt who he called Grandma Lizzie.
He joined the Army after high school thinking it would satisfy his desire to get to California (It didn’t) so long story short, he traveled back to North Carolina and began working, that is until he joined the Navy at 22 years of age and in the later years that dream of California became reality. Nathaniel has had a life of ups and downs, some satisfactions as well as some regrets. We’ve all heard his stories, for he had no problem letting anyone know he was something else and had made plenty of mistakes in life, but then the tears and the hallelujahs would come when he thought about how God had kept him. He knew the lord had brought him a mighty long way from who and what he use to be, and the change was evident to those of us that loved him. He always said, “You can’t get oranges from an apple tree” in other words, if you say you’re one of God’s, you should have God like characteristics; somebody ought to be able to see the God in you. Anyone that met Nathaniel knew there was something different about him and that he was a man who loved with all his heart.
Nate was bought up in church and knew of the Lord but it became personal in 1969 and he became Licensed and Ordained in 1977. He went on to Pastor, Christ Missionary Baptist in San Francisco, Ca for a number of years and in 2002, he was called to Pastor the First Baptist Church in Pixley, Ca. He answered that call and Pastored 19 years until the Lord called him home. He loved First Baptist and they loved him, and he would do anything, whether with his time or his money and say, “I’m not worried, the Lord takes care of me!” He was one of a kind. He met his wife, Diana, whom he loved to call, “The love of his life” upon coming to Tulare County and a 3-year friendship resulted in a 16-year marriage. He was her “Puddin” and she, “His Baby” and the love they shared will continue on until they meet again.
Preceding him in death are His Parents, Grandpa Vance, and Grandma Lizzie, along with his brother from another Mother Ernest Elvis Pierce. Those left to Mourn his Passing are His Loving and Devoted Wife, Diana; 5 Sons (Richard, Reginald (Sheryl) and Nathaniel O. Hairston, Henry and Tristan Strong); 4 Daughters (Yvette Hairston, Jackie (Arnold) Colbert, Deborah Quinn and Ebony Strong); 16 Grandchildren; 11 Great Grandchildren; 2 Sister-in- Law (Naomi Dixon and Mary Ann Williams) and One friend he adopted as His Sister (Elorise Patterson); 2 Brother-in-law (Kevin and Keith Williams), His First Baptist Family; His beloved dog Boragard, along with Many Great Friends and Loved Ones that he thought of as Family that NEVER let him forget just how loved he was.
To show you just how special he was and just one of the reasons he was so loved. He and his best buddy, Elvis Pierce were scooter buddies. They would take off every Friday or Saturday morning for Starbucks, where they would drink coffee, maybe have a donut and converse with any and everybody. They became well known in target, Walmart, and Home Depot. Well, Elvis PASSED away on May 11, 2021, and pastor was never really able to bounce back fully from that blow. They were truly brothers who saw no color, only friendship. So, if you find yourself in heaven one day and see a tall black man with new legs riding with his somewhat tall white friend with new legs on their scooters, chatting with everyone they meet. Just smile and say hello and know that the boys are together once again.