VSP First Sergeant Haygood passes away

May 2, 2008 | Virginia News

First Sergeant Mark A. Haygood, 44, of Midlothian, Va., passed away peacefully Thursday, May 1, 2008 at St. Mary's Hospital. He is survived by his devoted wife, Terri K. Haygood; loving children, Rebecca, Riley, Peyton, and Jacob; his parents, Charles H. and Catherine I. Haygood; one sister, Cindy L. Horne; also two nieces and five nephews.

First Sergeant Mark A. Haygood was employed with the Virginia State Police on January 1, 1989. He probated in Division 5, Area 37 (Williamsburg). He attended the 84th Basic Trooper Session on February 27, 1989, and graduated from the State Police Academy on July 28, 1989. Subsequent to graduating from the Academy, First Sergeant Haygood was assigned to Division 5, Area 32 (Norfolk). He was promoted to Trooper II on January 28, 1990. First Sergeant Haygood was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on April 16, 1997, and transferred to Division 5, Area 36 (Waverly). He transferred to Division 1, Area 6 (Powhatan) on September 10, 2000, and became the Tactical Team Leader for Division 1.

First Sergeant Haygood was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant on April 25, 2003, and assigned to the Personnel Division. On August 25, 2004, he transferred to the Training Academy where he supervised the Tactical Operations Unit. As the First Sergeant of the Tactical Operations Unit, he supervised the Firearms Section, Officer Survival Section, Canine Unit, Safety Compliance Officer, and Department Armorer. First Sergeant Haygood, during his tenure with the Department, achieved the following specialties: General Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Driving Instructor, and Tactical Team Leader.

Mark was a kind, sincere and devoted man, whose smiling face brought joy to those touched.

Visitation
The family will receive friends Sunday, May 4 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m., at the Huguenot Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Road, Midlothian, Virginia. (Phone: 804-794-1000)

Funeral Services & Interment
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday, May 5th in Bon Air Baptist Church, 2531 Buford Road, Bon Air, Virginia. (Phone: 804-647-2449) Interment will be at Westhampton Memorial Park, 10000 Patterson Avenue, Richmond, Virginia.

Reception
A reception will be held at the Bon Air Baptist Church following the interment.

Contributions
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

National Brain Tumor Foundation
22 Battery St., Suite 612
San Francisco, Calif. 94111.

Additionally, contributions for the Haygood family can be made to the Virginia State Police Association Emergency Relief Fund. You can mail your contributions to:

Virginia State Police Association
6944 Forest Hill Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23225.

Please annotate on the check "Contribution for the Haygood Family."