Leora May Haywood

Leora May (Littleton) Haywood passed away peacefully on her 75th birthday, Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the Miriam Boyd Parlin Hospice Residence in Wayland, MA. A gifted artist and accomplished cake decorator, she was a longtime resident of Newton. 

Born in Boston and raised in Holbrook, Massachusetts, she was the oldest of three daughters to Albert W. and Leora D. (Lawrence) Littleton. Leora was a 1971 graduate of Holbrook High School and went on to graduate in 1974 from the New England School of Art, where she studied graphic design. 

She married Robert Bradford “Brad” Haywood on August 16, 1975. Last summer, they celebrated 50 years of marriage with family and friends at their summer home in Onset, MA.

Early in her career, her artistic talents took her into publishing, first selecting artwork that brought children’s books to life for young readers and later designing local police association magazines. 

Leora and Brad were blessed with the arrival of their daughter, Natalie Marie, in 1986, and their son, Nathaniel Scott, in 1988. In addition to baking, Leora enjoyed making art with their children and collaborating on special projects with Brad, who is a master craftsman. 

Her artistic focus eventually shifted to professional cake decorating, where every creation was a blank canvas for her intricate piping and sugar flowers. After working at Whole Foods Market in Newton, she joined The Icing on the Cake, where she spent 22 years creating custom 3D cakes. 

Prior to 2016, she was a longtime member of The Historic Myrtle Baptist Church of West Newton, MA. There, she devoted her time as a greeter, a member of the Daughters of Myrtle, and sang in the Voices of Myrtle. 

Leora became a member of Watertown Evangelical Church (WEC) in 2016 and a deaconess in 2018. The hospitality ministry became her focus as she took great pride in being named the "gatekeeper" of WEC in 2023, faithfully welcoming everyone with her warm smile. 

Upon retiring, she filled her days gardening, admiring her butterfly tree, painting, baking sugar-free desserts for her husband, and visiting their summer home. There, they relaxed and ate whole belly clams, while she especially enjoyed lobster rolls and spending time with their beloved cat, Dandy. 

Leora was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, and mother. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert W. and Leora D. (Lawrence) Littleton, as well as her two sisters, Shirley (Littleton) Kelley and Nancy (Littleton) Mills. 

She is survived by her loving husband, Robert “Brad” Haywood; her adult children, Natalie and Nathaniel Haywood; their beloved cat, Dandy; and her sisters-in-law, Raynette (Haywood) Clark, Deborah (Haywood) Sullivan, and Brad’s twin sister, Candi (Haywood) Jenkins and her husband John. She is also survived by a host of loving nieces, great nieces, nephews, great-nephews, great great-nephew, family members, and friends. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Leora May Haywood's memory to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network  (PanCAN) at Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – Research, Patient Support, Resource