Jean Marie Hayes was a founding member of the BIG Central Valley Fresno Chapter, in Region IX, in 1999.  She served as the Chapter Treasurer. 

She valued education and graduated from Fresno City College and the University of San Francisco.

Jean gravitated towards civic-based activities and had affiliations in the following organizations:  National Council of Negro Women, Fold Star Wives, NAACP, Mentor at Clovis High School, Grandparent Program, Parenting for Education and the Sistering Group. 

Jean was an employee of the Internal Revenue Service, where she served as a Supervisor Tax Examining Assistant for twenty-nine years.