Haines A. Maxwell, Sr

April 12, 1929-December 18, 2021

Born to William Haines and Martha Emma Maxwell on April 12, 1929, Haines grew up in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey with his older sister, Irene. His dad, a sea captain spanning both World Wars, served several terms as mayor of Egg Harbor City. After graduating from Temple University and serving in the United States Army, Haines worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Philadelphia where he couldn’t help but notice a sporty young Philly gal by the name of Dorothy Jane Sprague. Married in 1952, the happy couple lived in Moorestown, NJ having children Haines A., Jr. and W. Scott while working for RCA in Cherry Hill.

In 1960, the new RCA computer division (Haines used to call the early years of the computer industry “IBM and the Seven Dwarfs”) sent the young Maxwell family and several other couples to open up “new territory” in a place called Atlanta, Georgia. Doing their best to learn speaking “Southern” the Maxwells settled into the ways of the South and soon birthed their Georgia Peach daughter, Martha “Marti” Elizabeth, in 1963. The next stop in the Maxwell adventure was Raleigh, NC as Haines was sent to open an office for the Carolinas followed by a move to lead the new regional headquarters in Charlotte in 1967.

As RCA threatened to move him back to the Northern headquarters, Haines pondered other types of employment so he could keep the family down South which led him to build a couple of spec homes in the Southpark area of Charlotte under the tutelage of home builder Claude Pounds-a great friend from their days in Atlanta. So…..in 1971, the Haines A. Maxwell Company was off and running building custom homes in the greater Charlotte area featuring 100+ homes in River Hills Plantation, a multi-use development of 1000+ units at Heritage USA in Fort Mill, SC in the 1980s, followed by several developments south of Carowinds at Bailiwyck, Ashford on the Water and Pleasant Road Business Park. Fifty-plus years since its founding, Scott Maxwell continues to lead the charge as president of the Haines A. Maxwell Company as one of the region’s oldest home builders/developers.

Haines would want you to know that the most significant part of his personal journey occurred in the early 70s after his wife, Dorothy, had reluctantly attended a Bible study held by Alma Owen at the Little Church on the Lane in Charlotte. Dorothy was overwhelmed by EXPERIENCING the love of God from Alma, Annabelle Wylie, and the other women in that small study. She would come home talking about Jesus….all the time. While Haines and the children were initially concerned about her mental health, Haines, Sr and the three children all embarked on a spiritual journey and became followers of Jesus as well in the years that followed.

When Haines suffered a broken hip in the 70s and was confined to the house for a season, the Little Church Bible study led by Alma Owen came to him….and stayed in the Maxwell House living room at 6501 Park Road meeting every Wednesday night….for 20+ years. Many strengthened their spiritual journey and even came to faith at those meetings.

Haines and Dorothy served through the Little Church for over 40 years teaching Sunday School, helping lead numerous retreats, and serving as elders and lay ministers. A mission so close to their hearts involved Safiatu and Mohammed Braimu in Sierra Leone, Africa. The Braimus-who grew up in the Muslim faith-met the Maxwells and soon became followers of Jesus being loved and nurtured over the years by Haines, Dorothy and so many others at Little Church. They ultimately left the comforts of Charlotte and returned to their village in Sierra Leone to spread the love of Christ and minister to the needs of the people. Building a library, a church, a school - and even bringing electricity to the village for the first time - the mission continues to this day having impacted hundreds of children and their families. Because of the excellence of the school, a number of Muslim families have moved back to the village so their children could attend the Christian school!

Haines had always been known as a straight up, honest, kind man but his journey with Christ charted a new and more significant course for him as well as the whole family always being eager to share and demonstrate the love of God. Over the years, Haines has mentored and encouraged many men in both their career and spiritual lives. He was known by many as a humble, positive, servant-leader.

Having not smoked a day in his life, Haines was diagnosed in July of 2020 with Stage Four lung and bone cancer. Due to God’s sustaining hand and the wonderful care of Dr. Pal and his team at Levine Cancer Institute, he lived another 17 months in good spirits and was able to care for Dorothy until she passed to heaven’s glory in July of this year. The depth of his love and care for his bride during her final years battling dementia as well as a number of physical ailments left all that saw it amazed.

Haines is now reunited on the other side of eternity with his wife of 70 years, Dorothy, who graduated from this world this past July. Looking forward to the ultimate reunion are sons Haines, Jr. and W. Scott, daughter Marti Maxwell Peterson, son-in-law Todd Peterson, Sr, daughters-in-love Dianne (Haines, Jr) and Catherine (Scott), grandchildren Carrye Maxwell (Steve), Haines, III and his wife Michelle, Anna Maxwell and her husband Kevin, Scott Maxwell, Jr., Emily Maxwell, Catherine Maxwell, Sam Powell, Todd Peterson, Jr. and his bride Emma, Sarah Peterson Walton and her husband Isaac, Rachel Peterson and fiance Stuart Rodgers, bonus grandson Kory Rozich and great-grandkids: Haines A. Maxwell IV, Hudson Maxwell, Barrett Gage, Lani Gage, David Walton, Ruby Walton. Haines is also survived by sister-in-love Mary C. Sprague and the many beloved nieces/nephews/cousins from the Sprague/Maxwell/Vernor family trees....most of whom have stubbornly refused to move South!

The family would like to say a special “thank you” to all the friends who reached out to pray for and encourage Haines, Sr. and the family as well as all the healthcare providers at Atrium that cared for him and, finally, all the incredible “angels” at the Hospice and Community Care/Wayne T. Patrick House in Rock Hill, SC who extended such grace and dignity in his final days.

Finally, as he would always say after sharing tales of his latest adventures with his dear Bailiwyck neighbors across the street - Jack and Sherilyn (Roy & Alma Owen's daughter)....."And that's my story!"

All are welcome to join the Celebration of the Life of Haines A. Maxwell, Sr. at 1pm on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at The Little Church on the Lane, 522 Moravian Lane, Charlotte, NC 28207. Continued celebration after the service will be held in the fellowship hall beneath the sanctuary. The service will also be streamed on the internet through the Charlotte Moravian youtube channel. 

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