Rita Haywood, 71

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20

Rita Haywood, age 71, of Peachtree City, GA, had three citizenships. She embraced her heavenly citizenship in the early hours of September 11, 2025.

Rita de Jager was born a citizen of the Netherlands on November 11, 1953, in Dordrecht, the third of five children of the late Arie de Jager and Ali de Jager-Strijker. Rita attended Teacher’s Training College in Dordrecht and taught first grade for three years in Rijnsburg. At a Missions Conference where Corrie ten Boom and Anne van der Bijl (Brother Andrew) spoke, Rita surrendered to the Lord’s call to missionary service. In preparation, she participated in several short-term mission outreaches and then attended the Bible College of Wales in Swansea, UK from 1977-1979. There she met her husband Jerry Keith Haywood, from Rome, Georgia. They married in Dordrecht shortly after graduation in 1979. 

In 1980 Rita and Keith joined Operation Mobilization (OM), an international, Christian missionary organization. From 1980 to 1988 Rita served in various administrative and ministry roles on board OM’s ships M/V LOGOS and M/V DOULOS, traveling to more than 50 nations. During this time Rita and Keith lived in India, Jordan, and Norfolk, VA USA helping prepare for the ship’s arrival to ports in those nations. In 1988 Rita and Keith moved to OM USA’s office in Tyrone, GA and worked there for 37 years. Rita contributed her considerable administrative skills as an Executive Assistant and then as Team Administrator for the Church Connections Team. She and Keith, to the amazement of many, worked together in ministry for most of their married life. Rita employed her gifts in administration, problem solving, and strategic thinking throughout her career with OM. She also obtained her third citizenship in 2006, becoming a naturalized American citizen.

Rita came to know God as her Father and Jesus Christ as her Lord during her high school years in the Netherlands. She was committed to following and serving the Lord and looked forward to her daily quiet times with God. Her ambition was to live in obedience to the Lord and to help bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the peoples of the world. She most notably did this through the more than 6000 people she helped send on mission trips around the world. Rita was raised in the Gereformeerde Kerk (Re-Reformed Church) in the Netherlands and was a member of several Baptist Churches in the USA throughout her married life.

Survivors include her husband Jerry Keith of Peachtree City, GA; her brother Gert de Jager (Ruthy) of Haifa, Israel; her sister Jenny de Jager – Terbeek (Frank) of Oegstgeest, Netherlands; her sister Wilma de Jager – Huisman (Henk) of Dordrecht, Netherlands; her brother Ronald de Jager (Annaloes) of Delfgauw, Netherlands; her sister-in-law Beverly van Waters- Haywood (Earl) and several nieces and nephews in the Netherlands, USA, Sweden, Belgium and Israel.

The family offers special thanks to our friends and colleagues at Operation Mobilization, Dr. Patrick Railey, her friend and physician, Dr. Jonathan Bender and the staff at the Piedmont Cancer Institute, and the staff at Inspire Hospice. Special thanks to Rita’s hospice nurse, Liz Brack, who loved and cared for her like she was her own mother.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Westminster Memorial Gardens, Peachtree City. Please join us at the funeral home we will go together in procession to the graveside at 10:50 A.M. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at the funeral home. 

A Service of Remembrance for Rita will be held in the Worship Center at Operation Mobilization, 285 Lynnwood Avenue, Tyrone, GA on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 2:00 PM. A reception will follow.

NOTE: Rita wanted her funeral events to be casual and colorful, so please feel free to wear business casual clothing and dress in any color you want!

Rita loved flowers, so flowers are most welcome. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Operation Mobilization, PO Box 444, Tyrone, GA 30290. Include a note or comment: 9457 Founders Fund – Rita Haywood Memorial. Your gifts will be designated to strategic OM projects around the world.

To give online: Click here: OMUSA – Ways to Give or type in: https://www.omusa.org/donation-form/ ; Find:  Give to a Worker, Project or Country on the Give Page; Then Type 9457 Founders Fund in the search box and choose that account; Click: Search Now and continue to follow the instructions. Please add: Rita Haywood Memorial in the comment box. Then: SUBMIT

We welcome you to provide your condolences, thoughts, and memories on our Tribute Wall.

Mowell Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Peachtree City, www.mowells.com