Wayne Peters

Published 2:30 pm Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in 

trouble.”

Wayne Peters passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2024. He was born in Carter County on November 5, 1939 and was the son of the late Conley and Lola Garland Peters.

Wayne was a graduate of the Unaka High School Class of 1957 where he played football and basketball. For football, he was named All-Watauga Conference for three years. He was named on the first team for two years as an End for the Rangers and was the leading pass receiver for the final three seasons of his high school career. 

After graduation, he and his twin brother lived for approximately five years in Washington D.C., where both worked for the FBI. Upon returning to Elizabethton, he worked at ET&WNC and later retired from Snap-on Tools. 

Wayne was a charter member of Unaka Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher, but in recent years, prior to his illness, he attended New Liberty Freewill Baptist, the church of his childhood. Wayne was a member of Dashiell Masonic Lodge #238, Elizabethton.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Nora (White) Peters; a daughter, Kelly (Tony) Jones of Elizabethton; and a son, Kevin Peters of Elizabethton. Survivors also include his twin brother, Zayne (Vickie) Peters of Kingston, Tenn.; his sister, Sandra (Lemmie) Taylor of Elizabethton; his Tennessee Vols Football buddy, John Salyer; his friend, like a brother, John White; his best friend that he ever had, Evan Peters; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

A Service to Celebrate the Life of Wayne Peters will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with Pastor Walker Roberson officiating. Music will be provided by the New Liberty Free Will Baptist Church Choir. Interment will follow in the Blevins Cemetery with Pastor Wesley Duncan officiating. Active pallbearers will be Evan Peters, Tony Jones, Lanny Peters, Dwayne Taylor, Paul Jones, Weston Taylor and Kenny Greer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New Liberty Freewill Baptist Church – Pavilion Project (113 Peters Hollow Road, Elizabethton, TN 37643). Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Andrew Shelton, Andy White, Paul White, John White, Lemmie Taylor, Norman Peters, Ronnie Taylor and Richard Hodge. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, prior to the service. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website, www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.

Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Peters family.