Harry Wayne Deaton
July 29th 1946 – August 29th 2001
R to L: Harve, Wayne, Martha Ann, Bertie Mae
R to L: Martha Ann and Bertie Mae holding Wayne in Banks County, Georgia
Wayne Deaton was born on July 29th 1946 in Banks County, Georgia to Harve and Bertie Mae Deaton. Wayne grew up with one older sister, Martha Ann, whom he was very close with. Wayne also had an older brother who passed away the day he was born. Kenneth Wesley Deaton arrived too early and wasn't strong enough to make it. He died three years before Wayne was born on March 13th, 1943 and is buried at Damascus Cemetery. Until the time Wayne was around 3 years old, the family lived in a wooden home near Damascus Church Cemetery at coordinates 34.43498° N, 83.44093° W. As of 2024, the house is nothing but rubble.
​
Father: Harve Wesley Deaton
Mother: Bertie Mae Ausburn
Sister: Martha Ann Deaton
_______________________
Wife: Karen Ruth Byrd
Children: Susan Lynn, Cynthia Dawn, Wendy Renae, Andrew Wayne
R to L: Wayne, Bertie Mae, Molly Runningwolf, Martha Ann
Wayne in Harve Deaton's A model coupe
On March 10th, 1950, the family moved to Cramerton, North Carolina. Wayne's father, Harve, was already working there in the mill because farming was not productive enough to support the family. While working in the mill, he was living with his friend, Garnett Smith. When he was eventually offered a job to be the caretaker for the Cramer farm, a house came with the job; therefore, Bertie Mae and the children made the full time move to Cramerton. Wayne was almost 4 years old and this was the first house he had lived in with a bathroom, running water, and electricity.
Move to Cramerton
R to L: Wayne, Harve, Martha Ann on their front porch in Cramerton
Harve was working directly for Rebecca Cramer, Stewart Cramer's third wife. Stewart Cramer was the founder of Cramerton and lived in the famous Maymont Mansion on the top of Cramer mountain. Harve took care of Rebecca's land, surrounding the mansion. In the mornings, he would give a daily report to Mrs. Cramer, often when she was sitting on the toilet. Both Martha Ann and Wayne loved to go up to the mansion and visit. Every easter, Mrs. Cramer would make them Easter baskets and in return they would take Mrs. Cramer's brother, Mr. Tinkham, a dyed easter egg.
Even though the quality of life had improved, life was still difficult for the family. It was 1953, during a church dinner at Friendship Baptist Church in Belmont when the family got red measles (also known as rubeola). Everyone had gotten better except for mother, Bertie Mae. On Christmas Eve, she was sent to Charlotte Memorial Hospital. Her measles had turned into spinal meningitis. Wayne was 7 years old and said, “I guess Santa Claus won’t come this year". Bertie Mae loved Wayne and demonstrated her love for him, so this all was very hard for him. Christmas Eve night, he went to bed, a very sad little boy. When he was asleep, Wayne's sister, Martha Ann, started searching in her parents’ room and at the bottom of the wardrobe, she found a watch meant for her, a gift for Harve, but nothing for Wayne. Martha's heart dropped. Then looking under the bed, there were several boxes of toys. Martha said she never forgot how excited Wayne was when he got up early and saw that Santa Claus had come.
Bertie laid in the hospital and went into a coma for 42 days. When she awoke, she was never quite right again and suffered physically and mentally. Wayne's mother was sent off to Broughton Mental Institution after she tried to drown herself in the river on numerous occasions and being pulled out by Harve. She was committed on May 3rd 1954 and discharged on June 30th 1955.
R to L: Boyd Jackson, Ronnie Jackson, Wayne Deaton
Wayne and sister Martha at U.S. Monument in Kings Mountain
R to L: Wayne, Bertie Mae, Martha Ann
.jpg)
Harve and Wayne at their Cramerton Home
Wayne and dog, Tonnie, at his new home in Cramerton
The house where Wayne was born in Banks County, Georgia
R to L: Wayne, Boyd Jackson, Ruth Jackson, Martha Ann
Wayne at Cramerton Home
Wayne playing Indians
Wayne in front of Georgia Home
On Sunday, June 16th 1957 at 9:15 pm, Wayne's mother, Bertie Mae Deaton, got a .32 pistol and shot herself in the right temple outside of their garage. Wayne saw Bertie Mae take the gun outside and she told him "Do your mother one last favor and go back inside the house.” Wayne rushed in and told Martha Ann and she replied "She isn't going to do it.” Bertie Mae was buried at Friendship Baptist Church.
Wayne and friend, David Smith
Wayne and father Harve in early 1960s.
Sensitive Content
Wayne's high school graduation
Marriage and Later Life
Wayne married Karen Ruth Byrd in Swain County, NC, on March 25, 1967. Karen's parents were Carrie and Eugene Byrd. Wayne went to Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO where he earned a BA in Theology. He had four children: Susan Lynn, Cynthia Dawn, Wendy Renae, Andrew Wayne. He was pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church. Wayne died August 29, 2001 while waiting for a heart transplant at Duke Medical Center, Durham, NC. He is buried at Cabarrus Memorial Gardens in Cabarrus County, NC. Wayne is remembered as a devoted brother, loving husband, proud dad, adoring grandfather, special uncle, faithful friend and dedicated pastor.
R to L: Wayne, Harve, Daryll Duncan, Martha Ann, James Eury
Wayne and his Family (Early 1970s)
Wayne and Karen's Wedding