Gwyn Howard Waycaster

1944 - 2025

Gwyn Howard Waycaster, age 81, passed away Friday, September 19, 2025 at The Nichols Center in Madison, Mississippi. The son of the late Louise Collier Waycaster and Guey Howard Waycaster, Gwyn was born March 16, 1944 in Tupelo, Mississippi and raised in Nettleton.

Growing up on the family farm, Gwyn milked cows, hauled hay, fed livestock, plowed fields, and picked beans and cotton. When he wasn't in the cornfield, he was on the football field. Coached by the renowned Jack Carlisle, Gwyn was part of the historic and undefeated 1958 Nettleton Tigers high school football team named best in the state.

In 1964, Gwyn married his childhood sweetheart and love of his life, Dot Howard of Nettleton. Dot and Gwyn moved to Columbus where Dot attended Mississippi State College for Women, and he attended Mississippi State University in Starkville. Gwyn graduated from Mississippi State in 1966 earning a bachelor's degree in Accountancy. After graduation, Dot and Gwyn built a house in Nettleton, and Gwyn worked as a cost accountant for Rockwell International in Tupelo. In the late sixties and early seventies, Gwyn served his community as a Scoutmaster for the local Boy Scouts of America troop.

Gwyn was a consummate gentleman with a kind and positive sense of humor who optimistically and lovingly encouraged others. Above all, he fervently loved God and His Word. He and Dot answered God's call to the full-time ministry in 1978, and in 1983, graduated from RHEMA Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. After pastoral ordination, they worked together in ministry for more than 45 years pastoring churches in towns across Mississippi, including Amory, Kosciusko, Vicksburg, McComb and Ridgeland. For more than a decade, the Waycasters hosted "The Living Word" TV program, teaching God's Word and demonstrating the love of Jesus to viewers in Northeast Mississippi and Northwest Alabama. Due to its popularity and production quality, the program aired on WGN Chicago for a few years.

Gwyn is survived by his loving daughter, MeLisa "Missy" Stewart and son-in-law and "favorite person" Keith Stewart of Madison. He is also survived by a sister, Emily Patterson (John Robert) of Nettleton, a brother-in-law, Mack Hussey (Vicky) of Auburn, Alabama, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Carroll and Melba Pettigrew of Nettleton and Donna Steinriede of Brandon are long-time ministry partners and cherished friends of the Waycaster family. A special gratitude of thanks goes to Gwyn's caregivers and friends at The Nichols Center for the exceptional care provided to him this past year.

Welcoming Gwyn into heaven are his devoted wife of 59 years, Dot, his parents, fathers-in-law, Pvt. Zack Charles Howard and Charles Christopher Hussey, Jr., mother-in-law, Bessie Hussey, brother-in-law, Wayne Hussey (Pam), and a host of other family members and friends.

A private interment will be held at Lee Memorial Park in Tupelo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests honoring Gwyn's love of teaching God's Word by considering a donation to his first Bible teaching opportunity in 1976, the Sunday school youth class at Nettleton First Community Church. Checks may be mailed to the church at 160 Verona Avenue, Nettleton, MS 38858. Please note Gwyn Waycaster in the memo line.