K. Wayne Shands' Obituary
As I have sat by Wayne’s side these last few days, I’ve thought of our life together and all the places it has taken us. I’d like to share some of Wayne’s life story with you. Wayne was born September 9, 1941 in Greenwood, SC to parents, K.I. & Corine Shands His older sister, Harriet, was there to welcome him to the Shands household. Wayne was saved at the age of 16 at Epworth Camp in South Carolina, as his dear friend, Enoch Finklea, prayed for him. After Wayne was saved, he was blessed to be able to sing at many revival services where Rev. Finklea did the preaching. In 1964, Wayne joined the Air Force and for 18 months he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. While he was stationed there, he met C.P. and Alma Tarkington, who introduced him to the Church of the Nazarene. Wayne joined with them as they started a Christian Service Men's Center. He especially liked the music, and decided he could help Pastor Tark by singing and leading the music for the center. Wayne invited and brought other airmen to hear the Good News. Many of these friends accepted Christ during these services. One of his friends, who was converted from an especially sinful life, is now serving as a missionary in Africa. After serving in Okinawa, he was then stationed in Orlando, FL. When he got to Orlando, he looked up a Nazarene church and the minister, Rev. Ben Marlin, invited Wayne to Sunday dinner. It was at this dinner, that he was introduced to me, Sharron Marlin. We married on November 25, 1966. After the Air Force, we moved to Nashville, so he could finish college at Trevecca. While at Trevecca, he sang with the Encounters under the direction of James Van Hook. Wayne majored in Education and minored in Music. He graduated in from TNC in 1970. During this same year, our first child, Wendi, was born. After graduation, we moved to Houston where Wayne was Head Master of the Child Care Center of Spring Branch Church of the Nazarene, as well as their youth pastor. The lead pastor was Nathan Price. Wayne’s next ministry position was a full-time position as youth pastor at Hot Springs First Church of the Nazarene. It was there in 1973, that our son, Bobby, was born. We then moved to Kansas City where Wayne was Christian Education Director and youth pastor at Central Church of the Nazarene. We later moved to Arlington, VA where Wayne was the Minister of Music and the Youth Pastor to 200+ teens at Arlington Calvary Church. Orlando First Church brought the Shands family to Florida. Wayne served part-time as music director while also working at Florida Power. He then served as music director for East Side Church of the Nazarene in Kissimmee, Florida. In 1979 our family moved to Memphis, TN. Wayne was part-time music minister with Rev. Don Dunlap at Park Ave. (later to become Grace Church of the Nazarene). Rev. Bob Dixon and Rev. Mark Lancaster also pastored at Grace Church during our years there and we came to know and love them as well. Wayne also served as music director at North Memphis Church with Rev. Mike Suits. It was during our years in Memphis that Wayne then started teaching for Shelby County Schools. He taught school for 18 years. While Wayne taught during the school year, the Shands family traveled around the country during the summers holding Kids' Krusades. We met many wonderful people, who became lifelong friends. Wayne was known for his puppet characters: Gramps, Bogie B. from Tennessee, and Sally. Wayne took early retirement in 1998, when at age 56 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It was at this time, that we moved to Nashville and began attending Old Hickory Church of the Nazarene. Pastor John Bledsoe was not only our pastor, but he was Wayne’s good friend. Wayne sang in the choir up until he entered the nursing home in 2005. We had a good life raising our children, traveling with our family and serving our Lord. Survived by wife, Sharron Shands; daughter, Wendy (Kevin) Harrison; son, Bobby (Leslie) Shands; sister, Harriet (Marshall) Kinney; and one grandchild. Celebration of Life will be on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at 1PM, at Spring Hill Funeral Home with Jimmy Blackman officiating. Interment will follow in historic Spring HIll Cemetery with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Missions at Old Hickory Church of the Nazarene in Wayne's name. Visitation will be on Monday from 5-8PM, and on Tuesday from 12noon until service time at SPRING HILL FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY
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