Mary Lou Johnston Wayne

Winston-Salem-With her loving family by her side, Mary Lou Johnston Wayne passed away peacefully on April 18, 2012 at the age of 79. She was born on March 12, 1933 in Charlotte, NC to the late Helen and Harold Johnston. She attended Central High School in Charlotte, NC where she made many life-long friends and also met her husband of fifty-five years, Herbert M. Wayne, Jr. (Bert), who survives her.

She graduated from Queens University in 1955 and after marrying in 1956, moved to Boston, MA where she worked in a bank while Bert earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Harvard University. After Bert accepted a position with Wachovia Bank, the couple lived in Winston-Salem, Asheville, Asheboro, Salisbury, Greensboro, Charlotte and then again in Winston-Salem. After Bert’s retirement from Wachovia, the inseparable couple extensively traveled the world.

In Winston-Salem, she was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church and especially cherished her friends in Circle One and the Chapel Sunday School Class led by Norwood Robinson. She was also a long-time member of Forsyth Country Club where she spent many happy hours on the golf course with wonderful friends. She also enjoyed the staff of the golf shop and indeed the entire club staff, who were all always helpful and kind. Mary Lou was an avid Wake Forest fan and enjoyed attending football and basketball games as often as possible.

She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, relative and friend. It could be said she never met a stranger because she would always soon make them a friend. Surviving Mary Lou, besides her husband, are her son Herbert Monteith Wayne, III (Bo) and his wife Jan who live in Winston-Salem, NC; daughter Laura Wayne Gooding and her husband Mike who live in Wilmington, NC; daughter Suzanne Wayne Johnson and her husband Bill who live in Benson, NC as well as seven grandchildren: Spencer and Catherine Wayne; Callie Gooding Taylor (Rob), Kate and Michael Gooding; and William and Mary Payton Johnson. She has one sister, Suzanne Johnson (Joe) who lives in Franklin, TN. Mary Lou also has several special nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, Mary Lou wishes that memorials be given to her beloved Queens University (1900 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28207) or to The Derrick L. Davis Forsyth Regional Cancer Center, Stimstein Fund which helps provide transportation to the Cancer Center (3333 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston Salem, NC 27103). The funeral will be held Saturday, April 21 at Centenary United Methodist Church at 11:00 AM with Bishop Thomas B. Stockton officiating, assisted by Reverends Doug Bailey and Craig Ford. Family visitation will begin at 10:00 AM at the church. Interment will be held at 2:00 PM at Forest Lawn West Cemetery, 4601 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208.

The family wishes to express deep gratitude to the nurses and staff on the ninth floor of Forsyth Medical Center for their kind and compassionate care of Mary Lou. On-line condolences may be made at www.frankvoglerandsons.com. Frank Vogler & Sons Reynolda Chapel is assisting the Wayne family.