Lateefa Sandra Hayes, 51, of Tinton Falls, New Jersey entered eternal rest on September 11, 2019.  She was born in New York City on February 19, 1968 to.

Lateefa was raised in Brooklyn, New York and attended Abraham Lincoln High School to study animal sciences.  In school, Lateefa was well-liked and a popular student.  She was a cheerleader and sang soprano with the Brooklyn Borough-Wide Chorus.  She graduated high school in 1985, and some of her school friends became lifelong companions.

Lateefa attended North Carolina A&T State University. She was an active member of the New York/New Jersey Aggie Club.  She could always be found in the lab; earning the nickname "small animals". She graduated with a B.S. degree in Laboratory Animal Sciences. After spending several years as an animal laboratory technician, Lateefa decided to pursue a career in pharmaceutical sales.  She was last employed by a global pharmaceutical company as a Senior Director of Business Development.

Sandy had an immense passion for rescuing and fostering animals, dogs in particular.  She was an active member of the Garden State German Shepherd Rescue group, and adopted several German Shepherd dogs.

Sandy loved football and was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan.  She stayed active with the New Jersey Chapter of the North Carolina A&T Alumni Association and was recently elected Vice President.  She loved going to the beach, dancing, all types of music and watching classic movies.  Sandy was an outgoing, kind, compassionate person that left a lasting impression on many people.

She is survived by her mother, Sandra Hauges; step-father, Robert Hauges of Bayville, NJ; father, Gerald Hayes of Brooklyn, NY; sister, Alicia Hayes of Brooklyn, NY; step-brother, Jarrett Hauges of Bronx, NY; niece, Jayla Hauges of Bronx, NY; and a host of relatives and friends.