Harold “Wayne” Gregory, 81
March 13, 1944 – May 17, 2025
“Lives of great men all remind us. We can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time.” —Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “A Psalm of Life”
Harold “Wayne” Gregory, 81, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2025, in Tupelo, Mississippi, surrounded by family. Though his earthly journey has ended, the legacy he leaves behind stretches far beyond the calendar.
Born in Sullivan, Illinois, on March 13, 1944, Wayne lived most of his early life rooted in the close-knit rhythms of small-town Midwestern life. But no matter where he was, home was wherever his family gathered. And that was just how he liked it.
In 1969, he served as the pastor of Windsor Baptist Church in Illinois. In 1979, he returned to Alabama, where he pastored Millport Baptist Church. From there, his faith led him to Mississippi in 1981, where he served as pastor of Pinehaven Baptist Church until his retirement in 2006.
Wayne wore many hats throughout his life—master printer, devout preacher, heartwarming provider—but above all, he was the steady soul you could always count on. If something needed fixing, building, lifting, or simply doing, he was there—quietly, faithfully, and without fanfare. He didn’t need attention; he just needed you to know you were loved.
He had a voice that could both comfort and command, a laugh that sounded at just the right time, and a way with words that made you pause—whether you were about to be inspired or teased. Wayne didn’t speak often, but when he did, his words lingered. He had that kind of wisdom—and that kind of wit.
He loved music. Loved it so much, he’d often break into song, his favorite tunes being “Amazing Grace” by John Newton, “Through the Years” by Kenny Rogers, and “Don’t Close Your Eyes” by Keith Whitley. If you were lucky enough, you often caught him belting a tune, most likely while brewing a pot of coffee for his beloved wife, Paula—or while sitting back, pipe in hand, watching an Alabama football game.
A man of extraordinary generosity, Wayne was the kind of man who made an ordinary trip to the movies, or a small moment feel like a cherished memory. He was also the kind of man who quietly passed down what it meant to live with integrity, loyalty, and devotion.
He is survived by his loving wife, Paula; his siblings, Nell, Sue, Shorty, and John; and his children, Renae, Carla, Regina, Cherissa, and Adam, as well as their spouses. His joy extended to his grandchildren—Zachary, Nathaniel, Courtney, Preston, Dallas, Ryan, Bradley, Jordan, Patience, Hayden, Shannon, Destiny, Landon, Adam II, Alyssa, Alivia, and Austin—and their partners, along with a growing group of great-grandchildren who will carry pieces of him forward.
Wayne is now reunited in Heaven with his daughters Patience-Erin and Charity-Erin, as well as several other brothers and sisters. We take comfort in imagining the way he must’ve wrapped them up in a long, long hug—the kind only he could give.
Perhaps the best way to honor Wayne is to remember him—in the smell of freshly brewed coffee, in a Sunday hymn, in the quiet strength of a helping hand. Tell stories. Laugh hard. Love louder. That’s the kind of legacy he left behind—and it’s one he would want us to carry, always.
If you feel moved to honor Wayne’s memory, please consider donating to Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, Mississippi. Their compassionate care in Wayne’s final days meant the world to his family.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” —Revelation 21:4
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