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The Rev. Wayne McDonald, age 78, passed away Friday, August 13, 2021, at Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville, Georgia. Services for Rev. McDonald will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, August 21, at Eastside Baptist Church in Cairo, Georgia. The Rev. Chris Allen to officiate with military honors. A private burial will be held in Salem Seminole Baptist Cemetery in Seminole County (Desser), Georgia. The family will receive friends at Eastside, beginning at 2:00 pm.

Due to ongoing concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, those attending are asked to wear protective masks and social distance in accordance with the State of Georgia guidelines.

Wayne was born and reared in Seminole County, Donalsonville (Desser), Georgia. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. W. H. McDonald. He is survived by his wife, Vera McDonald; eight children, Christopher Wayne McDonald, Jeffrey Todd McDonald (Angela), John McDonald, Jennifer Swanner (Paul), Michelle Blanchette (Brian), Travis Morrison, Erick Morrison, Mackey Morrison (Christy); siblings, Sophie Earnest, Kate Mitchell, and Marjorie Anderson; grandchildren, Joshuah P. McDonald, Christopher Brandon McDonald, Caleb Joseph McDonald, Devin Foret, Macy Brown, Ashley Wytaske, Tucker Miles McDonald, Allie LeMay McGraw, Kaylee Grace Swanner, Natalie Hope Swanner, Austin Morrison, Bryce Morrison, Aaron Morrison, Jordis Morrison; seven great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He attended Seminole County High School in Donalsonville. While in high school he was active in FFA, of which he was president and reporter of the chapter. He was elected State FFA reporter. Among his school accomplishments, he won first place in public speaking on the local, district, and state levels.

After finishing high school, he enrolled at Bob Jones University, but decided to enter the US Navy and serve his country. While in the Navy, he was an air crewman with US Navy Squadron VR-7 and VR-8 US Navy Air Transport. The last two years of his service he was attached to the military air transport (US Air Force). During his time with the transport squadrons he transported cargo and men to Tan Son Hut, Da Nang, and Cam Rum Bay, South Vietnam.

After completing his military service, Wayne entered Bible college at Immanuel Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. There he received a Bachelor of Theology and Masters of Religious Education degree. He did extensive studies at Lexington Theological Seminary, Lexington, Kentucky. There he received a Doctorate in Literary Letters for lectures and writing “Did Jesus Happen”. He completed his Doctor of Theology Degree at Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham, Alabama. Wayne received an Associate of Arts Degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Wayne was ordained into the ministry by Salem Seminole Baptist Church (Desser) Donalsonville. While in the ministry he worked with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (World Wide Movies) for a year. He became an associate professor at Immanuel College and Headmaster of Immanuel Christian Academy in Atlanta. He pastored several churches in his ministry, including Defoor Avenue Baptist Church in Atlanta; West Street Baptist Church in Bainbridge, Georgia; Attapulgus Baptist Church, Attapulgus, Georgia; Midway Baptist Church, Cairo, Georgia; Victory Baptist Church, Cairo; Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Camilla, Georgia; Climax United Methodist Church, Climax, Georgia; West Bainbridge United Methodist Church, Bainbridge; and Calvary/Bethel/Centennial United Methodist Churches. He served as part time interim pastor at Eastside Baptist Church, Cairo, and assistant chaplain for FPC (Alabama United Methodist Conference), Montgomery, Alabama. He served as the director of Faith Outreach Ministries Bible Study, WIVV, in Vieques, Puerto Rico. His ministry of over 50 years reached many people throughout South Georgia, Alabama, North Florida, and Central America.

He was blessed to be led to write three songs, “I Found it All in Jesus”, “He Put a New Song in My Heart”, and “See the Lamb”. Wayne was involved in music ministries. He served as the Music Director at Eastside Baptist Church in Cairo for a year. Wayne was the lead singer of the Hymn Masters Quartet.

Wayne officiated in over 200 weddings and funerals. Over 400 lives accepted Christ as their Savior. He touched many, many lives.

His legend will be Psalms 118:17, “I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord”. Even though his body is dead, Wayne hopes he is remembered for his desire that the Gospel be proclaimed continually so others may come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.

His last words – “Lift up your heads for your Redemption draws near”. Jesus is Coming Soon!

Memorial donations in honor of Rev. McDonald may be sent to St. Jude Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

On-line condolences may be sent at www.Coxfuneral.net. Cox Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.