Wayne Peters

Edward "Wayne" Peters, 81, of Morganton, Georgia, peacefully passed away in his sleep on January 8, 2025, knowing he will forever be deeply loved. He is preceded in death by his father, Edward Dillard Peters; mother, Sarah Hunnicutt; daughter, Julie Anne Peters; and sister-in-law, Linda Mason. He is survived by his wife, Mary, his daughter, Janice Jernigan and her husband Mark; Wayne is also survived by his brother, Hal Peters (Brenda); his niece Aimee Simmons (Steve); his brother-in-law, Joe Mason; his nephew Danny Mason; and many other friends and relatives.
Wayne grew up in Atlanta where he graduated from Murphy High School and Dekalb Technical College. He served in the Air Force Reserve. In 1965, while serving his country, he married his wife, Mary, settled in Lilburn, GA and later moved to Dacula, GA. From an early age, he was creatively and mechanically inclined. He gathered broken bicycles from trash piles left at the street, figured out how to restore them, and sold them at reasonable prices.
Wayne began his long-term career with AT&T as a technician and steadily rose in the company's ranks as a leader in Human Factors Engineering. He earned seven Ollie's, a highly sought after award. For him, it was less about the fanfare behind it, and more about the challenge of earning an award previously only granted to those higher in the organization. When offered early retirement, Wayne accepted it as an opportunity to pursue a dream he had held for 20-plus years: driving the train for the railroad at Stone Mountain Park. This required him to pass a litany of tests to gain the certifications needed to operate a train, and he happily rose to the occasion. Quickly becoming known as "Wayne on the Train", he created business cards to share with his passengers from all over the world. He was in awe of the sights and sounds he experienced when driving the 5-mile trek around the mountain and crafted a newsletter about his adventures to share with friends and family.
After fulfilling his dream, Wayne focused his energy and efforts on a career with Keller Williams Realty as an esteemed agent for over a decade, retiring in 2022. He was known for his exceptional customer service, meticulous attention to detail, and willingness to help his clients and colleagues. Wayne infused joy and humor, while building and nurturing relationships, throughout his life and careers. He had an unassuming way of showing folks that they were important and appreciated. This earned him many friends and mentees along the way. While Wayne had a strong work ethic, his family always held the top slot for what mattered most. He provided for their needs, and much of their wants. He gifted them with his time, deep and lasting love, and numerous precious memories.
Wayne and Mary were founding members of Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, GA. Since its inception, he served as a greeter at the door for the children's ministry. His engaging and childlike demeanor, along with the Elmo cap he wore, made him a fun and recognizable person countless children looked forward to interacting with each week.
Across the years, Wayne had many hobbies, which included: woodworking, collecting coins and tokens, and capturing pictures of city limit signs. His favorite pastime was traveling with Mary. They honeymooned in Daytona Beach, Florida, and returned nearly every year. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge were also frequent vacation destinations. As empty nesters, they began taking extended trips, exploring numerous places across the United States and Canada. They described Alaska as the 'trip of a lifetime.'
Wayne and Mary moved to North Georgia in August of 2024. While his time there was short, he made the most of it by soaking up magical moments around the property and on the porch of his early 1900s farmhouse, overlooking panoramic views of vineyards and mountains.
The funeral service to celebrate the life Edward "Wayne" Peters will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel, Snellville, GA. Burial will follow at Floral Hills Memory Gardens, Tucker, GA. The family will receive friends prior to the service on Monday, January 13, 2025 from 11:00 AM until the time of service 1:00 PM at the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, A Family Company, 3705 Highway 78 West, Snellville, GA 30039 (770-979-3200) has been entrusted with the arrangements.