Jane Edith Grimwood was born in Hampstead on 26th March 1864, daughter of George Grimwood, the owner of Camden Brewery in London. She married flour miller, Leonard William Hayward, of Melton, in 1892 and they established a family home in The Highlands in Woodbridge. Leonard died in 1933 and Jane continued to live at Highlands until her death twenty years later. 

Mrs Hayward was a very active member of the Red Cross and was appointed commandant of Suffolk No.2 VAD in 1910. She was the first commandant of Melton Red Cross Hospital, where she served full time until 31 July 1915, when she handed over to Lady Farren.