A loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather went to be with the Lord, Jesus Christ on February 5th, 2021 at the age of 87. Wayne was born in Sebring, Ohio where he grew up and attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse (all 8 grades). He graduated from McKinley High School and continued on to complete his undergraduate studies at Eastern Nazarene College and graduated from Olivet Nazarene University. He graduated from the Nazarene Theological Seminary with distinction. Wayne went on to receive his Master of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh and completed his Doctorate of Ministry at The University of Pittsburgh.
Wayne sang in the Orpheus Choir and traveled in a trumpet trio while attending Olivet Nazarene University. He played football in college and loved watching collegiate football as well as pro football. He was especially fond of Florida State, Ohio State and the Miami Dolphins.
Wayne married the love of his life, Miriam Ruth Albright, on September 4, 1956. They celebrated 64 years of marriage. To this union, they had four children: Art Speakman and wife, Janice, Miriam Speakman, Branson Speakman and wife, Jessica, Marla Galindez and husband, Dennis. Five beautiful grandchildren: Raymond Galindez, Bradley Speakman, Ben Speakman, Madison Speakman and Caden Speakman; and great granddaughter Sarai Galindez.
Wayne pastored for 36 years at churches in Pontiac, Illinois, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Jacksonville, Brandon and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He served on seven Ministerial Associations and was the President of four. He was a trustee at the United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise, Florida as well as serving on many committees. In 1975, Wayne became the Senior Pastor at the First United Methodist Church Jupiter-Tequesta. His determination and inspirational leadership led the congregation to build a new church and fellowship hall, which remains today. One Sunday, on the final drive for the campaign, the church raised $100,000 to meet the necessary funding. Wayne always remembered that Sunday as “Miracle Sunday.”
Spiritually, throughout his career, Wayne was instrumental in lifting others up and bringing them to the Lord. He was quite active in numerous community organizations and served as President of the Kiwanis International in Brandon, Florida and a member of the Jupiter/Tequesta Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs. He and his wife, Ruth, led church groups and traveled to over 34 countries. This included seven trips to Israel where he baptized each of his children. Wayne thoroughly enjoyed spending quality time with his family and taking them on adventurous vacations. He loved golfing and fishing. Wayne’s biggest prize was a 7’ sailfish, which he proudly mounted in his home office. He enjoyed watching NASCAR, one year he even volunteered on the ambulance crew at the Daytona 500. He and Ruth enjoyed exercising and riding their bicycles throughout their neighborhood. Reading and writing were some of his favorite activities, and he once commented that a serious written sermon is equivalent to a 3000-word term paper.
When Wayne received a call by God into ministry as a young adult, he made a decision to spend his life working for the Lord and not for men. He looked at his life’s work as a way to be faithful to his calling and took for himself a life motto, “Only one life twill soon be passed-only what’s done for Christ will last!”
Wayne trusted his work of love in God’s kingdom would last for all eternity. To this end, he lived his life."
A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, February 10, at 10:30 am at First United Methodist Church Jupiter-Tequesta, 815 E. Indiantown Road, Jupiter, Florida. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. A private burial will be held.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to an organization close to Wayne’s heart, Florida United Methodist Children’s Home, https://www.fumch.org/ or to Sebring Camp http://www.sebringcamp.org/
