Elder Wayne B. Myers

Published 10:34 am Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Funeral services for Elder Wayne B. Myers are 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at Union Primitive Baptist Church in Ruth with burial at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church in Brookhaven. Riverwood Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. 

Visitation is Tuesday, July 21, 2015 from 4 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home and Wednesday, July 22, 2015 from 10 until 11 a.m. at the church. 

Elder Myers, 80, died Monday, July 20, 2015 at his residence. He was born in McComb on Aug. 24, 1934, to Alex E. Myers and Retha Velma Nettles Myers.

He was a graduate of Carter’s Creek High School, Southwest Mississippi Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi.

After serving two years in the United States Army in Fort Chafee, Arkansas, San Antonio, Texas, and the Panama Canal Zone, Mr. Myers began his professional career in the fall of 1962 at Progress Elementary School where he served as principal and basketball coach. His Lady Panthers consistently formed the nucleus of highly competitive South Pike High School teams. In 1973, he served as coach of the south squad in the MPS All-Star game. During his tenure in the field of education, spanning over five decades, he was a classroom instructor and served in various administrative and transportation related roles. In 1975, Myers was ordained as a minister in the Primitive Baptist church. During his 40 years in the ministry, he served churches from Carthage to Baton Rouge and from Natchez to Ruth. His home church was Antioch, located just west of Brookhaven. Elder Myers was a powerful song leader, a Bible scholar, and a beloved pastor. As a faithful servant in the Lord’s kingdom, Brother Myers was a constant source of inspiration to God’s children. Married on Nov. 25, 1956, to the former Sharon Cowart, he was the epitome of an Ephesians 5:25 husband. His world revolved around his family as evidenced by his attendance at their activities and programs. Within his descendants, he instilled the importance of obtaining an education, demonstrating a strong work ethic, developing a servant’s heart and walking circumspectly before our Redeemer.

Elder Myers was an avid outdoorsman, a man of integrity, and one who truly preferred others above himself. He possessed an ever-present smile and words of encouragement for everyone who crossed his path. Certainly his life reflected the Apostle Paul’s creed in that he “fought a good fight, he finished his course, he kept the faith.”

Preceding him in death were his parents; his brothers, R.B., Jeff, Joe, Melvin and Bill Myers; his sisters, Alma Myers, Mabel Dunn Wilkinson, Mildred Thompson, Merle Sterling, Helen Boyd, Sarah Jackson and Joyce Lansing; and one daughter-in-love, Karen King Myers.

Survivors are his wife of 58 years, Sharon Cowart Myers; his sons, Mickey DeWayne Myers of Bogue Chitto and Ricky Lane Myers and wife, Paula, of Brookhaven; his daughters, Debbie Myers Smith and husband, Hugh, of Brookhaven and Nancy Myers Butler of Brookhaven; seven grandchildren, Blaine Alexis Myers, Marley Rachel Myers, Braden Marchant Tyler Myers, Reagan Michelle Myers, Brooke Elizabeth Myers, Layna Rachelle Myers and Aynslee Elizabeth Butler; one brother, Jerry L. Myers of Pearl; one sister, Hilda Myers Davis of Lake Charles, Louisiana; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Antioch Primitive Baptist Church or to the Wayne B. and Sharon Myers Scholarship Fund.