In Memory of A great Leader of the St. Augustine Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s: Dr. Robert Bagner Hayling. Rest in Peace, in Jesus Christ Name. 

Richard and Gwendolyn Duncan

Remembering, Recognizing, and Honoring An American Hero: Dr. Robert B. Hayling. Sleep on and get your rest from your many labors on this Earth. And, may GOD grant you entrance into His Glorious Kingdom in the world to come, in Jesus Christ Name. This is my prayer and hope.

Dr. Hayling, May the Creator of Heaven and Earth and all things therein, grant you to Rest In Peace and Rise in Power, in that Day, in Jesus Christ Name. You are truly missed. Our world was made a better place because you were born into it. 

The Duncan Family, Palm Coast, FL

Dr. Hayling was probably our nation's most historically significant dentist for his contributions to the civil rights movement that changed America and inspired the world. Thank you so much, old friend, and Rest in Peace!
   --David Nolan, St. Augustine, FL

Rest in Peace, and Rise in Power, in that Day, in Jesus Christ Name. 

Richard and Gwendolyn Duncan & Family

Dr. Hayling touched the lives of so many people locally and around the world. I, my husband Richard, our Children, and Grandchildren's lives are forever enriched by having known this American Hero.

We will continue to share his story and of those brave Heroes and Sheroes of the 1960s St. Augustine Civil Rights Movement. Their courageous acts led directly to the passage of the Landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.

May he Rest in Peace and Rise in Power, in that Day, in Jesus Christ Name.

I will always remember our time together, riding down the road to an event. May God continue to bless everything Dr. Hayling Touch on this side. To God be the Glory for His life on Earth. We know you are Heaven; however Happy Birthday Dr. Robert Hayling. 

Dr. Hayling and my relationship date back many years ago when he worked with my Uncle, Dr. Lorenzo Laws, DDS who worked briefly in the early 60's in St. Augustine...they were classmates at Howard University. We often talked about the struggles and challenges in St. Augustine. He advised and encouraged me throughout the years when I was over the Lincolnville Festival, started the first tours of Lincolnville, and founded the Fort Mose Historical Society. It was the Dr. ROBERT B. HAYLING, DDS who told me to NEVER GIVE UP!!! Dr. Hayling legacy lives on because he never gave up!!!

Coming to know Dr. Hayling was one of the great privileges of my life. By his example and his civil rights leadership, he reminded us that we are all children of God. In the process, he made this a better nation and us better human beings. What an extraordinary life.

It was such a privilege to know Dr. Hayling and to have the chance to walk with him. David Colburn

In Memory of The Late Dr. Robert B. Hayling...A Leader of the American 1960s Civil Rights Movement whose Birthday is today, November 20th...we miss being able to call you up and ask your advice on current social issues of Race in America. May you Rest in Peace.

You remain my Hannibal, and personify what happens to fear when faced with faith and courage. Thank you for touching us all.

In Memory of one of the greatest Heroes who walked GOD's Green Earth.  May your works be remembered for many generations yet unborn. Peace & Blessings to your family, in JESUS Christ Name.

You remain my Hannibal, and personify what happens to fear when faced with faith and courage. Thank you for touching us all.

In Memory of Dr. Robert B. Hayling who would have been 87 years old today. May you rest in peace from all your labor upon this earth and rise in power, in that day, in Jesus Christ Name.

We will always be grateful to Dr. Hayling for his leadership in the civil rights movement that changed America and inspired the world!
   David Nolan
St. Augustine, Florida
November 20, 2016

I came along 30 years after Dr. Hayling and the fantastic coalition he led and coordinated burst on the scene as the leading edge that helped St. Augustine propel the nation to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. When Dr. Hayling moved to St. Augustine to take over a dental practice, I'm sure the last thing he expected to do was commit himself to helping protect young people from the ills of alcohol, drugs, delinquency, teen pregnancy and a sense of hopelessness as youth director of the local NAACP. But Dr. Hayling -- much like my other lifetime hero -- Dr. King, was unable to not engage, not push for excellence and self-sufficiency, to look the other way when people were hurting and our nation was failing to live up to the high morals it professed to be built upon. He could have seen the struggle for civil rights and human dignity as someone else's fight. After all, he was handsome, highly educated and already successful. But Dr. Hayling was willing to risk it all, his career, his reputation, even his precious family, for a cause he was willing to die for. I feel incredibly blessed to have had the special pleasure of getting to know Dr. Haying, Kat Twine, and other phenomenal unsung heroes and sheroes. They transformational contributions pushed me to document their amazing stories.  And of the dozens I've been able to meet and chronicle over the past 20 years, none impacted me like Dr. Robert Hayling. Still ramrod straight when I met him in his late sixties in 1997, he epitomized black manhood for me. Much like his colleague, King's field general, Rev. Hosea Williams, Hayling exemplified an uncommon courage and resolve that encouraged and strengthened those he led, while eventually convincing those who opposed him that he was unwilling to back down. My only regret is that I had not been able to spend anytime with him, be present for any of the times he was honored, during the past few years. I had long planned and looked forward to bringing him to Atlanta to be honored at an institute to honor the foot soldiers, as well as produce a film about his life. My thoughts, prayers and deeply sincerely thanks go out to his family and friends. As someone who is blessed to speak to young people at colleges and universities frequently, I am committed to sharing his rich legacy to future generations every chance I get. I will never forget him and forever thank God for allowing me to be inspired and shaped by his life.

I was fortunate to spend a week with Dr Hayling, the last week of March, 1964, observing his leadership and bravery during those early, transformative moments of the movement there - that would lead to passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
A few months ago, after 51 years I learned of his address. The day before Thanksgiving, 2015, I wrote him a letter that ended with this paragraph:
"So, at this time of Thanksgiving, I feel honored to have known you and witnessed your actions first-hand, and I am pleased to thank you again for your leadership, foresight, and courageous perseverance in the civil rights movement of the United States."

An amazing general like no other. Straight as an arrow. A patriot who loved his people. His was NOT a fight to keep company with folk who didn't want it. His was to serve his tribe and ensure they could follow their tax dollars wherever they were spent. Be it meeting with public officials, playing on public beaches, protesting on public squares, or dining where profits were made possible by public sidewalks and streets. Rest on Dr. Hayling. In my book you will always be our Hannibal. Clennon L. King, Documentary Film Director
"Passage at St. Augustine" ©2015

My life and the lives of so many are better today due to the courage, love for mankind and the devotion of Dr. Robert B. Hayling. Not only is St. Augustine a beneficiary of Dr. Hayling's fight for humanity, but our entire country. He "fought a good fight." My his legacy live on.

I grew in up in Detroit, MI in the 1960's, and have always had a passion for history. In Particular, history as it relates to African Americans. I became familiar with Dr. Hayling from attending the annual ACCORD Freedom Trail Luncheons. I felt honored to be in the presence of Dr. Hayling and the other dignitaries and speakers who attended those luncheons. I was in the presence of greatness, true American heroes. Put simply, Dr. Hayling and the St. Augustine Four were not only fighting for the freedom and equality of the people in St. Augustine, he was also fighting on my behalf, all of those miles away in Detroit. I am truly moved and truly grateful for that. No doubt the Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant.

Jesus Christ said that, "...greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends...", Dr. Robert B. Hayling had that kind of love. He wanted all men and women to be treated fairly and equally under the laws of the Constitution of the United States of America. If the laws, were unjust, then he fought to change those laws, that discriminated against a race of people based on the color of one's skin. He along with others went so far as to put their lives on the line for their friends and generations yet to be born. It was his hope that his efforts and those of his colleagues who fought non-violently during the 1960s American Civil Rights Movement made the wheels of justice turn a little more fairly bringing freedom to all mankind.

Dr. Hayling was a great man and will be greatly missed. He adopted our family as his own and we likewise. The day that I received notice of his passing, by his sister, a Christmas package arrived at my home from him to our family. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his daughters Robin, Tamara, & Crystal; grandsons, Roman and Avery; sister, Yvonne; brother, Charles; adopted sister Mary Elizabeth Nasby; nieces, Nicollete & Melanie; and family, in Jesus Christ Name.

Mrs. Gwendolyn Duncan, President Emerita
(ACCORD) Anniversary to Commemorate the
Civil Rights Demonstrations, Inc.
"Remembering, Recognizing, & Honoring..."
www.accordfreedomtrail.org
79 Bridge Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084

I came to know Dr. Hayling in the 1970s when I was writing about St. Augustine's racial past. It was a fortuitous occasion for me. He helped me understand the Movement and its aspirations. More importantly, he taught me how to live a life of meaning. We were blessed to have him with us as long as we did, and those of us who knew him will never forget his concern for others, his decency as a human being, and his warmth and generosity to all. I am thankful to have known him and thankful for his willingness to lead us on the path to Freedom.

He did so much for St Augustine & by that for all in the US. His stature & grace & courage led to Pres. Barack Obama

Thank you for all you did for our brother Samuel White one of the St.Augustine four you will truly be missed but never forgotten. And thank to your family you are in my prayers. The White family.

I am so glad to have joined veterans of the St. Augustine movement for the 50-year commemoration in 2014. St. Augustine was one of the most stalwart, persecuted, and under-appreciated campaigns of the civil rights era. Dr. Robert Hayling led it with strength and courage. He will be dearly missed

Dr. Hayling, thank you for making a difference in Saint Augustine and the world. Your legacy lives on!! Rest in Peace!!