Wayne Alvin Sutton, went home to be with his Lord on Sunday, October 28, 2018. Born on October 26, 1940, the youngest child of Willard Alvin and Mary Evelyn Sutton in Saint Petersburg, Florida, he grew up in Waycross, Georgia, where he graduated from high school in 1958. He attended Georgia Tech, graduating in electrical engineering.

Wayne’s early life was full of interesting and fulfilling roles, including serving as a combat pilot in Southeast Asia, and engineer designing and constructing heavy industrial plants, a home builder and real estate developer. Wayne’s hobby was restoring World War II, Korean, and Vietnam era military aircraft and flying in airshows and performing aerobatic competitions.

Wayne considered his life to begin at the age of 64 ½ when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in a tent along the Appalachian Trail, where he had journeyed to fast and seek out his Savior. On June 16, 2005 in the early morning hours, Wayne fell on his knees for the first time in his life in acceptance of his Lord. Wayne said, “I felt as if I had wasted sixty-four years of my life and I promised God that I would serve him the remainder of my life.”

In 2007, he enrolled in Liberty University, where he graduated with a Bachelor degree in Religion. Wayne went on to receive a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies in 2012, and a Doctor of Ministry in Mission, Evangelism and Church Growth in 2014.

Wayne was accepted in the Pastoral Ministry program of the United Methodist Church in mid-November of 2009, and began his first appointment to Grantville First United Methodist Church in January 2010. Wayne served as Minister of Mission and Evangelism at Brooks United Methodist Church, pastor of Luthersville United Methodist Church, Fayetteville Friendship United Methodist Church and Reid’s Chapel United Methodist Church. He was active in the Walk to Emmaus, Chrysalis youth, and Kairos prison ministry.

Wayne’s final request was to be cremated and have his ashes spread over Plumb Orchard Gap on the Appalachian Trail, where he first accepted his Lord.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 44 years, Patricia Cox Werner Sutton; four children, Wayne Andrew Sutton of Atlanta, Georgia, Diana Lynn Monk of Macon, Georgia, Lisa Ann Thomas of Cumming, Georgia, and Brian Michael Sutton of Peachtree City, Georgia; along with eight grandchildren and 1 coming great grandchild.

A memorial service was held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Reid’s Chapel United Methodist Church with the Revs. Mike Ayers and Fred Kolshorn officiating.

The family received friends from 12-12:50 Saturday afternoon at the Reid’s Chapel United Methodist Church prior to the services.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Can't Never Could, www.cantnevercouldinc.com, c/o Coweta Community Foundation, PO Box 236, Newnan, GA 30264.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.