Wayne Howard Bennett

Wayne Howard Bennett was born in Memphis, TN, but grew up in Greenville, MS. After graduating from Greenville High School in 1971, he moved to Nashville, TN to earn his degree in Radio Broadcasting. Wayne worked with several radio stations throughout the Mississippi Delta, playing music ranging from blues, pop, and country. Later, he moved to Kingsport, TX, where he continued working with radio stations there for a short time before returning home to Greenville, MS.

One of the radio stations where Wayne worked was WDDT, where he was known on the air as “Casey Wayne Cole.” He eventually bought his own radio station, KUUZ (“The Cuz”), where he and his co-disc jockey became known as “The Morning Flakes.” During his broadcasting career, Wayne had the opportunity to meet several stars, including Richard Simmons, Vince Gill, Colin Raye, and Jo Dee Messina, just to name a few. After the ice storm caused the tower to fall, he later sold the station to Jimmy Swaggart Ministries in Baton Rouge, LA. A short time later, he moved to Hot Springs, AR, where he worked for US97 until he retired in 2021- after more than 50 years in the radio broadcasting business.

Wayne always loved singing and music. He performed with several local bands while growing up, including The River Bottom Band. Wayne was involved in several civic organizations in Greenville, including the Optimist Club, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Riverside High School Booster Club, St. Jude Radio Telethons, March of Dimes Radio Telethons, the Fourth of July Levee Festival, the Hot Air Balloon Festival, the Jesse Brent Boat Races, and the Firefighters Memorial Burn Association. He also performed in several plays and musicals with Delta Center Stage. Wayne became a Christian as a teenager at Parkview Baptist Church and faithfully served in the children’s department, nursery, Vacation Bible School (VBS), as an usher, sang in the choir and performed many solos.

At his class reunions, one of the most requested songs for Wayne to sing was “Mustang Sally.” One of his classmates, Sally, had received a Mustang for graduation, and it became a tradition that Wayne sing it every time. He also loved Southern Gospel music and enjoyed attending the Gospel Quartet Convention in Gatlinburg, TN, where he met many of his favorite gospel music entertainers—too many to list. He truly always had a song in his heart.

Wayne met Virginia “Ginger” Ousley Bennett of Hollandale, MS, and they were married at Wayne’s parents’ home on Holly Lane in Greenville, MS on September 10, 1994. They lived on South Main Extended in Greenville, just steps away from the radio station. After selling the station, they moved to Hot Springs, AR.

Wayne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease about a year and a half ago after showing symptoms for several years. Following a fall in early 2026, his condition declined rapidly. After an extended hospital stay, he was admitted to Fox Ridge Memory Care in Bryant, AR, where he received 24-hour care. He entered hospice on July 1, 2026, and after suffering a broken hip on July 5, he peacefully made his flight to Heaven on July 6, 2026, at 9:30 p.m. at Hospice Home Care in Little Rock, AR.

We wish to thank everyone who helped care for Wayne, especially Dr. Richard Roper, Dr. Seth Hollenbach, Dr. Adam Burroughs and his team, the staff at Fox Ridge—especially the Monday through Friday morning CNA team and Cyrus—and, most especially, the wonderful caregivers from Hospice Home Care and the team at Gross Funeral Home. You all were amazing.

At Wayne’s request, he was cremated at Gross Funeral Home in Hot Springs, AR. At a later date, we will have a “Going Home Party” in Greenville, MS—not a traditional funeral, but a true celebration and remembrance of the good times shared with family and friends. His remains will be buried as close to his mom and dad as possible in Greenlawn Cemetery in Greenville, MS.

Wayne and his family knew many people over the years and ask that you celebrate his life by sharing your memories with others as we continue to keep his memory alive. He wasn’t perfect, but he loved God, his family, his friends, and the USA. Be thankful for the memories you have. He will be forever missed.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Jasper “Jack” Victor Bennett and Margaret Louise Bennett, and his sweet niece, Stephanie Fulmer Williams.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Virginia “Ginger” Bennett; his sister, Joan Bennett Fulmer (Robert); and his children, Lindsey Bennett Moore, Tracey Bennett Miller (Cory), Steven Stringfield (Angela), Jeffery Sanders II (Sara Camp), Jennifer Lamoureux (Nick), and John Michael Crittenden (Cheryl).

He also leaves behind his fifteen cherished grandchildren: Christopher Moore, Skyler Almaguer, Kaely Moore, Madelyn Moore, Beckett Sanders, Jackson Sanders, Claire Sanders, Eden Koester, Gemma Stringfield, Haley Lamoureux, Brad Crittenden, John Wayne Crittenden, Dillon Crittenden, Brooklyn Miller, and Braxton Miller.

He is also survived by his great-grandson, Mateo Almaguer; another great-grandson, Miles Almaguer, due in October; and his great-granddaughter, Astrid Moore, also due in October, along with many other family members and friends who became family over the years.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to your favorite charity or place of worship. Some of the organizations closest to Wayne’s heart were St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society, the Alzheimer’s Association, Gideons International, and New Life Church in Hot Springs.