Wayne Kent Estep, 67
January 3, 1957 – November 19, 2024
Columbus-Wayne Kent Estep, after a wonderfully adventurous life, transformed to the life beyond Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 from Sanctuary Hospice House. He was 67 years old. Wayne was a native of Plymouth, North Carolina and was born on January 3, 1957, to the late Randall Kent Estep and Essie Cox Estep. He grew up in North Carolina and developed a love the lands and all God’s creation there, becoming an outdoorsman extraordinaire. Wayne early on in life learned to love fishing, hunting, water sports, riding horses and being aligned completely with nature’s bounty. He graduated from Plymouth High School and went on to attend Pitt Community College. He ultimately graduated from Eastern Carolina University in Greenville, NC where he excelled as a student and baseball player. Wayne began his working career with Weyerhaeuser Corporation where he advanced his career. He had a passion for trees and the products they produced and ultimately, by the time he retired, was an independent for the paper mill industry.
Wayne married the love of his life, Vicki Lynn Wright in Tupelo on November 20, 1999, a marriage of one day shy of 25 years at this death.
There’s was a grand life of family, friends, and fun gatherings and celebrations where often, Wayne often serenaded Vicki with his guitar and harmonica. They traveled, lived, and loved each other immensely.
He especially loved watching his grandson, Paxton, play baseball. He and Vicki had lived the last 25 years in Columbus where they were involved in the ministries of Piney Grove United Methodist Church. An avid Miss. State University sports fan, Wayne also was a master griller and lover of music.
A service celebrating his life will be held at 2 PM Friday, November 22, 2024 from the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Bro. James Black officiating. Visitation will begin at 1 PM and continue until service time at 2 PM. For those unable to attend, the service can be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Live-streaming at
at 2 PM Friday and will be archived thereafter.
Wayne leaves his loving family, his wife, Vicki Wright of Columbus; 3 daughters, Claire Wright (Justin) and Caitlin Holloway (Kyle) of Amory and Olivia Estep of Memphis, Tn.; his 4 grandchildren whom he constantly doted over, Paxton Wright, Eva Frances Wright, Nash Holloway and Fraya Kathryn Holloway.
A brother, Bill Estep of Winston-Salem, N. C., his nephews, Josh Estep and Matthew Estep of Wilmington, NC, his uncle, Carrol Cox of NC. His father-in-law, Lynwood Wright of Tupelo and brother-in-law, Lyn Wright of Navarro, Fla and Patrick Wright (Lisa) of Pensacola, Fla.; nieces Rachel Stephens (Derrick), Abby Wright, and Miukey Kellogg. his extended family and a host of friends everywhere. He was preceded in death by his parents, Randall and Essie Estep; his grandparents, Howard Estep, Madge Estep, Thelma and Hugh Morris and Earnest Cox, His Mother in law, Frances Wright.
Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Estep John McCommon, Jason Heleniak, Justin Wright, Kyle Holloway, Paxton Wright and the men of Club Myrick.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
