A missionary who survived a massacre at a mission station where she was working, many years ago, has died.
Margaret Hayes MBE had to take to the jungle with others where she survived for many weeks before being rescued, having been presumed dead – with a funeral and thanksgiving service being held for her.
She died on 25 October, aged 99, in Luff House, a Christian care home in Frinton–on–Sea, Essex.
A trained nurse and midwife, she felt called to mission service with mission agency Unevangelised Fields Mission (UFM). After further training in France and Belgium, in 1957 Margaret set off for the Belgian Congo, as it was called then.
Surviving the Simba Rebellion
Margaret’s two books, Missing Presumed Dead and Reluctant Missionary, tell the tragic but amazing story of how she survived a Simba rebellion massacre at the mission station where she was based, because she was working away from the station at the time. Sadly, 19 mission workers and their children died in the most appalling of circumstances. Margaret took to the jungle with a number of other people and hid there for weeks.
They were eventually rescued and returned to surprised family and friends who had thought she was dead. After a time of recuperation, Margaret returned to Africa to take up further nursing service with SIM in Niger.
SIM was founded as the Sudan Interior Mission and in French-speaking countries today is known as Société Internationale Missionnaire. It is usually just known as SIM.
In 1987 Margaret was awarded an MBE for nursing and welfare services in Niger. She retired in 1997. Her second funeral and thanksgiving service will be held shortly in Frinton.
