Wayne Rodney

It is with great sadness that the family of Wayne Rodney announce his passing on October 7, 2023, at his home in Hampstead, NC. He was 86. A native of Rock Hall, MD, he was born on August 22, 1937, at his grandparents’ home to the late Ellwood and Anna DeFord Rodney.

As a small boy growing up on the Eastern Shore, he delighted in crabbing with his grandfather Rodney, hunting with his Uncle Bill DeFord, and working part-time as a high school senior at Gatlin’s Donut Shop.

After graduation from Rock Hall High School Class of 1955, Wayne gained employment with Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company as a lineman on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Six years later a transfer to Washington, DC. took place. There he had security clearance to install telephone equipment in several government buildings including the White House when L. B. Johnson was President. He later accepted a First Level Management position. After twenty-five years of service at “Ma-Bell,” he retired as a Second Level Safety Officer.

Wayne joined Maryland’s 29th Army Division of the National Guard soon after high school graduation, serving for thirteen years. During that time, he took a ninety-day “leave of absence” from his employment at C&P to attend Officers Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA. He obtained his Lieutenant’s Bar and served during the riots in the late sixties on the home front of Cambridge and Baltimore, MD.

In 1975 he became a Boy Scout Master of Troop #768 sponsored by Baldwin Methodist Church, Millersville, MD. Meetings and camping trips took place where he helped shape the life of not just his son, Jerry, but of numerous other boys.

Wayne was an avid golfer. After relocating to Hampstead, NC, love for the golf game was combined with a part-time job in the Pro-shop of Castle Bay Country Club. There he made many friends, organized the Castle Bay Sr. Men’s Club, and participated in competition with other area clubs of the Coastal Senior Golf Assn.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Elaine; son and daughter-in-law, Jerry & Sheila; granddaughters, Rachael Norris (Brandon) Mackenzie & Sadie of NC; Chelsea Rodney Smith (Jon), Charlie & Madi of MD; brother, George Rodney (Frances) and sister, Cheryl Holliday (Joe) both of Rock Hall; daughter, Missi R. Finney (Jeff), Tori Finney Carey (Phillip) & Carter Finney (Anna) of MD. Sons by his first wife, Kevin & Frank, grandson, Taylor and his brother, Terry Rodney predeceased him.

Celebration of Life will be held at Grace Community Church of Topsail, Hampstead, on Wednesday, October 18th at 6:00 p.m. receiving, 6:30 p.m. service.

A memorial donation may be made to the Building Fund of Grace Community of Topsail at https://www.gracetopsail.com/give. Please select 'Building Fund' from the drop down menu. https://www.gracetopsail.com/give

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