Lewis Wayne Frederick of Guntown, Mississippi went to meet his personal LORD and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, May 1, 2025. He was born on November 3, 1934 in Shannon, Mississippi. As the son of share-cropper parents, he lived in several northeast Mississippi counties during his childhood and youth. Wayne, his preferred name, graduated from Nettleton High School in 1955, and earned an Associate’s Degree from Itawamba Community College in 1957.
Surrendering to the Gospel Ministry in 1956, he was licensed and ordained to preach The Gospel by Friendship Baptist Church in Ecru, Mississippi. Desiring to continue his education, Wayne transferred to Mississippi College in 1957 and received his BA in June of 1959. While a student there, he met his future wife Florence and they were married on August 17, 1960.
Shortly after their marriage, they moved to New Orleans so that he could attend New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. It was during this time, that Wayne and Florence began their family with the birth of daughters Edith in 1962 and Amy in 1963. He graduated from seminary in 1963 with a Bachelor of Divinity and in 1964 with a Master of Religious Education.
Upon completion of his seminary studies, they moved to Guntown Mississippi where he pastored Camp Creek Baptist Church. It was there in 1965, that they welcomed their third daughter Iris. As the years passed Wayne and Florence both felt that they were called to be foreign missionaries, so in December 1969 they were appointed by the International Mission Board to the island of Guadeloupe in the French West Indies. They arrived on the mission field in May 1970, and spent the next several years learning a new language and culture as they planted and pastored new churches. Their youngest daughter Jeanne was born in 1972 during their first term on the mission field in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
In 1986 after serving three terms on the mission field, Wayne and Florence took a leave of absence and returned home so that their daughters could finish high school and college. During their leave from the International Mission Board, Wayne served as pastor of Jericho Baptist Church in Baldwyn. In March of 1991, they returned to the mission field serving as missionaries in France and Bosnia until their retirement in January 2000. After retirement, he served as interim pastor for several churches in Northeast Mississippi.
As a faithful member of Camp Creek Baptist Church, he regularly went on mission trips and taught several bible study classes.
Wayne was very active until the last two months of his life. He often stated that he would “rather wear out than sit up and rust!”
A prolific Bible scholar, his study is filled with books and dozens of his sermon-filled binders. In addition to his academic abilities, he was a jack-of-all trades who was versed in welding, electrical, carpentry, and household maintenance. He enjoyed fishing, and antique tractors. Wayne had an incredible memory and enjoyed retelling family and friends of his many adventures and family history.
He is survived by his daughters Edith Wilhite, of Blue Springs, MS, Amy Griffin (Eric) of Clayton, NC, Iris Horne (Steve), of Oxford, MS, and Jeanne Curry (David) of Midlothian, TX.
Grandchildren: Matt Johnson, Jamie Wilhite, Marigrace Wilhite, Noelle Griffin, Danielle Haley, Joshua Griffin, Stephenie Horne, Sarah Horne, Hollyann Campbell, Averie Hardy, Emma Pruitt and Ethan Curry along with 10 great-grandchildren.
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He was preceded in death by his wife Florence Edith Blush Frederick, his parents Lemuel Wilbur Frederick and Ruby Irene Snipes Frederick,sister and brother-in-law Wayne and Fay Morgan, and an infant brother.
Visitation will be Saturday May 3, 2025 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Waters Funeral Home in Baldwyn, Mississippi.
Funeral Services are scheduled for 3:00 pm Sunday, May 4, 2025 at Camp Creek Baptist Church, Guntown, MS with Bro. Chad Higgins officiating. Burial will be in the Camp Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
