Wayman Bernard McLaughlin

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Rev. Dr. Wayman Bernard McLaughlin Sr. departed this life on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003, at his home in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Dr. McLaughlin, the fourth of the late Rev. Eddie Lee and Agnes McLaughlin's five children was born in Pittsylvania County, Va. on March 22, 1927. Under the spiritual guidance of his family, he accepted Christ at an early age. He was baptized into the fellowship of the White Rock Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. Fred Smith.

Dr. McLaughlin was a strong believer in education. He was educated in the Danville Public School System and graduated from Langston High School in 1944. In 1948, he received a B.A. degree in history from Virginia Union University, Richmond, Va. In 1952, he received a B.D. degree in the Psychology of Religion from Andover Newton Theological Seminary, Newton Centre, Mass. In 1958, he received his Doctor of Philosophy in Metaphysics from Boston University, Boston, Mass., becoming only the second African American at that time in history to receive this degree. While at Boston University, Dr. McLaughlin was a classmate and friend to the late Dr. Martin Luther King. This in turn inspired him to become very active in the Civil Rights Movement.

Dr. McLaughlin taught for over 40 years at several universities, including Virginia Union, Grambling State, Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T. Many lives were touched through his teaching and mentoring. He was affectionately known as "Dr. Mack."

Dr. McLaughlin was actively involved in the community. He was a member of several organizations including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., N.C. A&T Black History Club, the NAACP and the General Baptist State Convention.

Dr. McLaughlin was joined in holy matrimony to the former Zenobia Evangeline Winfrey in 1953. To this union was born five daughters and one son. Dr. McLaughlin was preceded in death by his fifth daughter, Sharon Gadson, two brothers, James and Ernest McLaughlin and one sister, Odessa Watkins.

Dr. McLaughlin was called to the ministry in 1951. He served as pastor of People's Baptist Church, Portsmouth, N.H.; Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Eden, N.C. and New Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Roxboro, N.C.

He leaves to cherish his memory four daughters, Bernadine McLaughlin of Baltimore, Md., Cynthia (Gould) Lyons of Winston-Salem, Phyllis (Brian) Wright of Orlando, Fla. and Beryl Miller of Charlotte and one son, Wayman (Jacqueline) McLaughlin Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn. He is survived by one sister, Jerene Hyatt of Danville, Va., three grandsons, seven granddaughters, two great-grandsons and a host of nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Dr. McLaughlin will be conducted Friday at 11 a.m. from Loyal Baptist Church with the Rev. Walter Tinsley, presiding and the Rev. Dr. Wesley McLaughlin, eulogist. Entombment will follow in Garden of Memory, Winston-Salem.

Viewing for family and friends will be Thursday evening from 4-8 p.m. at Cunningham and Hughes Funeral Home. The family will be at 110 Ivy Street.

Cunningham and Hughes Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.