L. Wayne Keith
Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home
Mr. L. Wayne Keith, husband of Sue S. Keith, passed away Sunday morning, September 12, 2021 at the Summerville Community Hospice House after a brief…but courageous…battle with cancer. He was 79.
Wayne was born in Walterboro August 25, 1942 a son of the late W.L. and Halsie Ray Keith. He was a 1960 graduate of Walterboro High School, and proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1963 until 1967, during which time he worked at the Pentagon while stationed in Washington, DC. He met his beloved wife Sue while there, and they were married on October 5, 1968 in Columbus, OH.
Wayne was a licensed insurance agent, was a Life Underwriter Fellow, and was the owner and operator of the Keith Insurance Agency. He was dedicated to his profession and to his clients, and was both a local chapter president, and past state representative, of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
Wayne loved Walterboro, and was actively involved in his community. Carrying on the Keith family tradition of Barbeque, he was the founder and chairman of “Smoke in the Boro”, an annual cooking competition that over the span of seven years, raised over $60,000 for various Colleton County charities. He was a past board member of the Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Walterboro Elks Lodge #1988, and was a past-member of the Rice Festival Board. Wayne was a staunch supporter of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and was an integral part of the Colleton County Citadel Club, always offering sound advice and support for all of its fundraising projects. An avid reader, his love of books carried over into his support of literacy programs in both the Orangeburg and Colleton County public schools systems.
Wayne was an active member of St. Jude’s Church, where he was a Lay Eucharist Minister, and enjoyed singing in the church choir.
He possessed an outgoing and jovial personality, always eager to meet new people…and form lasting relationships. He considered himself lucky to call the late Willard Scott a friend, and loved dancing with his wife Sue, bragging that he once took her to a party where Ike and Tina Turner were performing. His favorite sport was golf, and is now playing rounds with his late buddies “T.K.”, Ed and Bill on the greens in Heaven.
In addition to his beloved wife of 53 years, Wayne is survived by his daughter Sarah Elizabeth Keith, by his grandson Dylan Hunter Keith, and by extended family, friends and loved-ones. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Glovenia and by his brother Lennoye. He was a great father, husband, friend, brother, mentor and a truly good man.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of MUSC, Colleton Medical Center, Pruitt Healthcare Center, and Agape Hospice of Summerville for the care and attention they gave to Wayne and his family during his illness and passing. Their kindness will not be forgotten.
Although funeral services will be held privately, a drop-in for family and friends will be held at the family’s residence Saturday evening, September 18, 2021 from 5:00 until 8:00. The family asks for respectful social distancing. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either The Colleton County Citadel Club, or to the Colleton County High School golf team. Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home, 117 Paul Street in Walterboro is in charge of arrangements.
