Elbert Wayne Jernigan was born July 1, 1937 son of Ida Lee (Todd) Jernigan and Earl Clark Jernigan. After failing health for three years, Wayne quietly and peacefully surrendered to the call to his Heavenly home on a beautiful Sunday morning, September 17, 2023, with his loving wife Maralyn watching over him as she had always done throughout their marriage. Wayne knew where he was going as he sang the gospel songs that he loved too well, singing near to his leaving for his homecoming and Wayne was ready to go.

When he first saw Maralyn Simmons he knew she was the one he was going to marry and she was the love of his life. He made the move from Rutherford County to Cumberland County when they married and lived here until God said Wayne’s work was done and to come home.

Wayne and Maralyn married September 29, 1964, and this September 29 they would have been married 60 wonderful blessed years. Aug. 9, 1964, they welcomed their son Timothy Wayne with open arms and loving affection to fill their home.

A farmer all his life and he loved to farm with his wife working with him side by side each and every day.  He worked at Carter’s Ink for four years. Maralyn worked at Carter’s Ink for five years while getting their farming operation going. They worked on the farm and milked cows for thirty-two and half years, raised calves, they grew corn and hay. Always having a big garden each year, Wayne helped Maralyn with the canning and freezing what they grew and they also gathered the eggs from the chickens they raised. When they no longer milked cows, they then continued with beef cows, and still to this day. Wayne enjoyed serving on the Farm Service Agency Committee for thirty-nine years.  He received the Outstanding Conservation Farmer of The Year Award in 1996 which he proudly accepted. When he was asked when he would go on vacation his reply would be “I just farm.”

Wayne was a wonderful person, husband, father, and a friend to many.  He was a farmer that worked from dawn to setting sun and enjoyed every minute of it. It was very hard on him when he was no longer able to work as he had done all his life, he wanted so much to be able to work and get back on his John Deere tractor. All who knew him, loved him. He will be greatly missed.

As good as Wayne loved his family and farming he loved his Lord first and was thankful of his many blessings. He was a deacon at Zion Hill Baptist Church where he attended for many years.

He is survived by his wife: Maralyn; son: Timothy (Zilphia); sister: Wanda Ewell; and a hosts of nieces and nephews.

He was proceeded in death by his father and mother: Earl and Ida Lee Jernigan; brother: W. C. Jernigan; and sisters: Evelyn Faulks, Jean Bickle, and Dean Holt.

A loving one from us is gone, a voice we loved is still and a place is vacant in our home that never can be filled.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, September 22, 2023 at Akins Cemetery at noon.

Obituary by Crossville Memorial Funeral Home.