12/11/2013
Country artist Jamey Johnson shared a great description of the Wayne Mills funeral. Thanks to all who attended or watched online. Carol and Jack are truly grateful for your love, prayers, and support. We are grateful for the memories and to know that Wayne Mills Band is in Heaven above playing a tune for Jesus Daily right now. Please keep his family in your prayers as they grieve through a murder trial.
Thought you might want to read about Wayne Mills' memorial service....
Country singer-songwriter Wayne Mills was remembered as “a true gift of love” during the memorial service on a rainy Sunday afternoon in the auditorium of Arab High School in his hometown of Arab, Ala.
Wayne, who died at age 44 on Nov. 23, was the lead singer of the Wayne Mills Band, which toured nationally for more than 15 years and recorded seven albums, and also part of a trio called The Dixie C***s. Artists such as Jamey Johnson, Blake Shelton and Taylor Hicks opened for the Wayne Mills Band early in their careers.
His large black boots and his acoustic guitar, decorated with the numerous signatures of the many friends he made during two decades on the road, were displayed in front of his black casket, which was adorned with a small University of Alabama sticker; his studded guitar strap was draped simply but elegantly across the casket’s top.
His trademark white cowboy hat was encased in a glass box to the casket’s right, and his crimson University of Alabama No. 91 football helmet on the left. The pall atop the casket, as well as many of the floral arrangements sent by friends and family, were comprised of red and white flowers. But perhaps the most moving item was the photo of a smiling Wayne with his greatest accomplishment: his son Jack Wright Mills.
Before the service, Wayne’s unique brand of country music played as his widow, Carol, greeted friends and family who waited in a line that stretched out the back door of the auditorium. She handed each mourner a black guitar pick embossed with “WMB” and his band logo on the front and “Wayne Mills” and “1969-2013” on the back. The mourners came from all walks of life, reflecting Wayne’s ability to make friends and touch lives wherever he went.
The service opened with Heather Little Standifird singing Willie Nelson’s “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground.” Pastor Don Ware of Highlands Baptist Church read from Psalms and recited Wayne’s obit. After mentioning Wayne’s generosity and selflessness, he said, “When the tornadoes hit here in Arab, he was the one who came and put on a performance for those who lost everything in that storm.”
Wayne and his music were impossible to separate, because they were one in the same, so it was only appropriate that his songs served as a centerpiece of the service. “To the music: You were Wayne’s passion, the reason for his dream and why he stayed true to himself,” his widow, Carol, wrote in the program. “I know Wayne’s work will not be in vain and his dreams will be realized. You see, Wayne never played music to be famous or make money He did it simply because he loved it.”
His friend, Gary “Sarge” Sargent described Wayne as “a true gift of love of all who knew him. “As you can see as you look around her today, here at the high school auditorium, Wayne had a profound impact on everybody that he met,” he said.
“Those grieving with us today and around the world--his reach was that far--do so because of the man that Wayne was, not necessarily his talent,” Sargant said. “While he was an extremely talented and gifted artist, the only thing bigger than his talent was his heart. A man deeply committed to family, he was also deeply committed to his musical family. He was a friend, a mentor, a critic when needed, but more importantly, he was a voice for each and every artist doing it the right way and working hard. The music always came first for Wayne.”
Noting that Wayne was on the board of directors of the Outlaw Music Association, Sargent announced that the Guardian award has been renamed the Wayne Mills Memorial Award. “It is up to us to move forward and make sure that his dream of a family of musicians and artists, each and every one of us, happens and comes together where we can love one another and be kind to one another and help one another as he did on a daily basis.”
Wayne’s friend, Jonathan Barbee, presented a commendation on behalf of Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, which will be a part of the state archives forever. Barbee said, “A friend said, ‘Wayne was a pastor of the people.’ You could see the love of God through his heart. Many people who may never step foot in a church will see the love of god through Wayne Mills.”
Kris Caldwell, Elton Charles and Cowboy Eddie Long performed Wayne’s song, “One of These Days,” which includes the line, “My friends lost their lives, but I remember their dreams,” as well as the chorus, “One of these days I’ll fly to the moon/One of these days I’ll have nothing to prove/One of these days I’ll get out of this place and ‘ll be somebody one of these days.”
After Waylon Jennings’ version of “Freedom to Stay” was played, Wayne’s cousin Larry McSpadden spoke and the pastor delivered his remarks. “I don’t know if God likes honkytonk music or not, but one thing I do know is God likes love, he likes honesty, sincerity, compassion and treating your neighbor like you like to be treated,” Ware said. “If Wayne’s songs, which they did emphasize those things, I believe God likes honkytonk music. In fact, he’s probably listening to it now.”
To conclude the service, Wayne’s recording of “Homeward Bound” was also played. He sang, “Homeward bound, long time coming/Peace of mind so tired of running/He’s got a family waiting for him at the gates/With calloused hands he reached out and touched his mama’s face/Homeward bound, long time coming/Peace of mind, he’s through running.”
After the service, the family gathered for a private burial, where Tonia Turner sang “Amazing Grace,” Ware read scripture and prayed and then everyone heard from Wayne one final time when his recording of “Blame It on the Roses” was played.
“I always thought I was sharing Wayne with all of you,” Carol wrote in the program. “However, through this senseless tragedy I have learned that Wayne’s last gift to me and Jack was not a song but sharing all of you with us.”
