Fairfax County is marking the passing of Verdia L. Haywood, who served as deputy county executive for nearly three decades and played a significant role in developing the county’s human services system. Haywood died on February 6, 2026.
Haywood began his career with Fairfax County government in 1978 as an executive assistant to the county executive. He was promoted to deputy county executive for human services in 1981, a position he held for almost 30 years.
During his tenure, Haywood was instrumental in creating and overseeing a coordinated system that integrated public health, housing, family services, behavioral and mental health, and juvenile and domestic relations programs. This unified approach aimed to provide residents with access to comprehensive support through a single network. In his later years with the county, he also contributed to founding the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness.
Haywood worked during a period of significant population growth in Fairfax County. He emphasized building systems that could adapt to changing needs while remaining sustainable. His efforts included fostering collaboration among county agencies and forming partnerships with nonprofits, faith groups, schools, and private sector organizations to strengthen support for vulnerable populations.
“Verdia was the architect of Fairfax County’s human services delivery system,” said Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. “He built the partnerships that continue to define how we serve residents today and brought people together to solve complex challenges. It is fitting that the conference center at the Gerry Hyland Government Center bears his name because collaboration was central to his work. He combined compassion with pragmatism to strengthen our human services system and changed the lives of countless residents, many of whom never knew his name but felt the impact of his work.”
Under Haywood’s guidance, Fairfax County adopted service models that became examples regionally and nationally for effective coordination in human services. Colleagues noted that he helped move away from fragmented programming toward a holistic approach focused on prevention and long-term stability.
Throughout his career, Haywood was recognized for his calm leadership style and ability to unite people around common goals. He valued diverse perspectives and consistently prioritized resident needs when making decisions.
Haywood also mentored many current and former employees within Fairfax County government, influencing professional development across generations of staff members.
His work earned him various community honors during his career, including recognition from the Virginia General Assembly for his contributions in Northern Virginia.
After retiring on January 19, 2010, Haywood continued supporting local initiatives through board memberships and civic engagement with organizations such as ServiceSource.
Haywood’s influence remains evident in Fairfax County’s programs and partnerships as well as in those who worked alongside him or benefited from policies he helped establish.
