COLUMBIA - A memorial service for Wayne Melton Norris, 76, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, January 22, 2023 at Riverland Hills Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
Mr. Norris passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023. Born in Hartsville, SC, he was a son of the late Joseph Leslie Norris and Annie Melton Norris. A 1964 graduate of Hartsville High School, he attended Florence Darlington Technical College in 1966, where he received his associate’s degree in Electronics and was the president of the student body. He attended Spartanburg Junior College where he received his associate’s degree, served as president of the student body, and Student Senate. He was selected Who’s Who of Junior Colleges, and was president of his fraternity. In 1970, he graduated from Wofford College with a BA in Economics. For one year, he attended the University of South Carolina Law School in 1971, serving as a Page in the SC House of Representatives and was a member of the Young Republican Party.
For 46 years, he was the owner of Whitehall TV Sales and Service, beginning in 1976.
Mr. Norris was a member of the Jaycees in 1971 until age 36 and was employed by Midlands Technical College where he taught Math and served as a recruiter. He was nominated on the recommendation of R.L. Grigsby, President of Midlands Technical College as one of the “Outstanding Young Men of America” of 1976. He was also chosen by the Jaycees as an outstanding educator.
While living in Cayce, he served on the City of Cayce Town Council and was a member of Irmo Optimist Club serving as President several times.
Mr. Norris also found time to sponsor and coach over a decade of baseball and softball for his children, as well as shared with them his hobby of boating.
A former member of Faith Presbyterian Church in White Rock, he served as an Elder, Deacon, and Sunday School teacher. He was a member of the Gideons International where he served several terms as President and spoke at many churches on behalf of Gideons International.
Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Lynne Snipes Norris; son, Wayne Melton Norris, Jr. of Seneca, SC; daughter, Jennifer Lynne Holleman (Trey) of Columbia, SC; granddaughter, Tucker Ann Norris, Brianna Lynne Holleman, and Haley Claire Holleman; grandson, Tyler Joseph Norris; father-in-law, Fred Snipes of Hartsville, SC; sisters, Hilda Norris Crawford (Ronnie) and Karen Norris Newsome; nephews, Alex Crawford (Suzanne), Howard Crawford (Dawn), and Adam Newsome (Melissa); niece, Stefanie Ryan (Brennan); numerous great-nieces and great-nephews and numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Joey Norris, and mother-in-law, Hazel Raines Snipes.
Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251 or www.gideons.org/donate
Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.
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