James Wayne Campbell

Cary - James Wayne (Wayne) Campbell, 85, went to be with his heavenly father on the 19th of October, 2023, at his home, surrounded by his family. A native of Guilford County, he was the son of Matilda Fairene White and James Dolphin Campbell (both deceased).

A Memorial Service with full military honors will be held 2:00 PM, November 1st at Glenaire Retirement Community, 4000 Glenaire Circle in Cary, NC. The family will receive friends immediately after the service.

Wayne was preceded in death by his daughter, Jenny Campbell. In addition, he is predeceased by his sister, Wanda Campbell Mendenhall of High Point, NC.

Wayne is survived by wife, Peggy (49 years) of Cary; daughter, Lisa Nelms and husband David of Angier; daughter, Jennifer Morgan and husband, Michael of Mandeville, LA, and son, Jim Campbell and wife, Sabrina of Asheboro. Also surviving is grandson, Ryan Nelms and wife, Allison, and their children, Brock and Baylee of Angier. Also surviving is granddaughter, Christina Jones and husband, Eric, and their son, Dylan of Clayton. Also surviving are grandsons, Dalton Morgan and Dylan Morgan of Mandeville, LA.

Wayne was a proud member of the military for almost 30 years. He enlisted in the North Carolina National Guard in 1960, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Artillery, in 1963 upon graduation from the North Carolina Military Academy as a member of Class 5. He held various assignments to include Chief Auditor, Comptroller, Supply Management Officer for the United State Property and Fiscal Office and Director of Personnel for 1,700 full-time North Carolina Guardsmen and women. In August of 1994, Wayne was inducted into the North Carolina Military Academy Hall of Fame. He retired with the rank of Colonel in 1989.

Upon retirement, he worked the next 10 years with the State of North Carolina in the Department of Human Resources.

On February 2, 2008, Wayne received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Governor Mike Easley, which is the highest Civilian Honor given by the Governor to citizens for their significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.

In 2010, he became a Funeral Assistant, when and as needed, at Bryan-Lee Funeral Homes located in Raleigh, Garner and Angier.

Throughout his adult life, he was active in church and civic endeavors where he generously gave his time, skills and leadership. His diverse interests included the Jaycees, Elks, Masons and Scottish Rite Bodies of Raleigh. He was a Shriner and past member of AMRAN Temple, Raleigh. As a member of AMRAN Temple Chanters, he served as Secretary, 2-Term President and Chaplain.

He was Past President of the South Atlantic Shrine Chanters Association, a multi-state (KY, NC, SC, TN, PA and WV) organization.

Choral singing was a favorite endeavor. He sang with the Raleigh Oratorio Society, Cleveland Community Chorus, Johnston County Choral Society, Cary Community Choir, and the Glenaires, a resident chorus of the Glenaire Retirement Community, Cary. He also sang in several church choirs.

He served on several military related organizations and was previously President of the North Carolina National Guard Association and the Military Historical Society of North Carolina.

Church affiliations included Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, where he was ordained a Deacon and Elder. He was President of the Men of the Church, Clerk of Session, Church Officer Nominating Committee and Stewardship Division Chairman.

At Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, he became leader of their Stephen Ministry Program and that led to becoming a member of the Adjunct Staff, Stephens Ministries, Saint Louis, MO. For two years he served as the Coordinator for Stephen Ministries activities within the Triangle Area Stephen Ministry Network which consisted of about 70 congregations from different denominations within Central North Carolina. These volunteer positions involved considerable volunteer service and travel, local and nationwide.

At First Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, service included Sunday School Teacher, Early Birds Breakfast Group participant and frequent speaker, Missions Committee, Archive Committee, Bolivian Mission Committee, WIHN Coordinator, Montreat Retreat Committee and long-time Chancel Choir member, and one 3-year term as Deacon and one 3-year term as Elder.

He was the recipient of the 1996 Award for Outstanding Service at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, and later received that same award in 2012 at Raleigh’s First Presbyterian Church.

He was currently a member of Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Raleigh, and a member of the Danielson Class. His cremains will be inurned at the church’s columbarium in a private service.

Since 2014, he and his wife have lived at the Glenaire Retirement Community where service included being active in the Residents’ Association where he served as Treasurer, Vice-President and two terms as President.

There are many other and diversified areas of interest that have received his time and talents over the years. Faith, Family, Career and Volunteerism were the hallmarks of his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Transitions LifeCare, a non-profit hospice, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or The Glenaire Foundation, 4000 Glenaire Circle, Cary, NC 27511. This Foundation assists residents when their financial resources are deplenished.