Bishop Hayes was elected from the Texas Conference, where he served numerous churches, including Riverside UMC, Houston; Blueridge UMC, Houston; and McCabe UMC, Longview. He was also superintendent of the Houston Southwest District and Treasurer of the Texas Conference, an office he held immediately prior to being elected bishop.

Bishop Hayes is a graduate of Huston-Tillotson College, Austin, and Perkins School of Theology, SMU. He holds the Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University, Madison, NJ.

Bishop Hayes and his wife, Delilah "Dee" Barnard Hayes, are parents of three children.