Mr. Wayne Nunley Long

Wayne Long was born January 11, 1930 in Tyler, TX and, surrounded by loved ones, slipped peacefully away to heaven on November 10, 2023 at his home in Poetry, TX. He was preceded in death by his father, Edell Burl Long; mother, Ruby Lee (Minor) Long Davis; wife of 63 years, Helen Joyce (Sanders) Long; most recently by his brother, Cecil Long; and over the past few years by most of his long-time friends.

He is survived by one daughter, Tawanna Joyce Jenkins (husband, Dennis); one granddaughter, Lisa Rene Moore (husband, Mike); five great grandchildren, Alexandria, Preston, Anais, Paxton, and Pierson Moore; one niece, three nephews, a sister-in-law, and a host of friends.

Born to a young woman who could not care for him, he was handed as a tiny baby into the loving arms of E.B. and Ruby Long. In fewer than four years, they gave birth to his much-loved brother, Cecil. Wayne claimed (and verified by Cecil) that they never fought!

I quote now from a memoir that Wayne wrote a few years ago at the urging of his granddaughter, Lisa.

“In August 1945, the U.S. government dropped an atomic bomb…. Just a month or two later, a “bomb” of another kind fell on Sug (Cecil) and me. Mother and daddy decided to get a divorce. Divorce is a bad word for people who get a divorce, but it is a terrible word for children…. I’ve seen bad times and sad things have happened to me; but seeing my brother…sitting on a suitcase in a Greyhound Bus Station crying is as bad as it gets.”

In Dallas with his mother, they moved in with an aunt and he finished 10th grade at Adamson High School. It was at his aunt’s home in February 1946 where he recounted:

“I was in bed with heavy covers…as there was no heat in the room. I was very mixed up on account of the ‘family’ problems. I was sad and insecure. I began to pray and ask God’s help in this sad time. The prayer I prayed was very simple. ‘Jesus save me.’ Suddenly, I felt the greatest feeling come over me. I felt really happy – as if a great load was lifted from me! From that day until now, I have always tried to live for God. The stability and peace I received from that experience has ‘saved’ my life. All I am nowadays, and all I have accomplished, is due to this experience!” (As he would repeat this happening in later years, the emotion would still come to him. The experience was real!)

Within a year he met Helen and they married five days after he turned 18; on the same day, he lost his job! Always the provider, within two months he started working for A&P grocers; and eight years later, he began as a meter reader at Dallas Power and Light Company, from which he retired in the 1980’s. For most of Tawanna’s growing up years, he said: “I worked two jobs most of the time. …I was gone a lot.” Having dropped out after the 10th grade, it was during Tawanna’s high school years that he took a correspondence course to finish high school in order to be eligible for job promotions.

During this time, he and his wife pioneered and pastored Lancaster Road Assembly of God Church. After leaving there, he preached locally and held revivals around town. In later years, with his friend, Gene Lewis, he ministered for 14 years at the Venus Correctional Facilities. In June of this year, he was honored by the North Texas District for 50 years of ordination as an Assemblies of God minister.

His retirement afforded him a lot of time to spend with granddaughter, Lisa. Several years later, when she married and had the first great grandchild, he was nearby – a help to Lisa and a great joy for him.

In 2009, he and Helen moved in with Lisa and her growing family where Helen passed away in 2011. He continued to live with them, enjoying the five great grandchildren born between 2003-2011, until his passing. It could be successfully argued that they were the driver to his longevity; (he passed just two months short of 94 years).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.laurellanddallas.com for the Long family.