Wayne Anthony Zurenda

Wayne Anthony Zurenda, 74, husband of Susan Beckham Zurenda, died on March 21, 2025, from cancer. Born in Hampton County, South Carolina, on January 25, 1951, he was the younger son of the late Alma Rose Bowers Zurenda and Floyd Bernard Zurenda, Sr.

Wayne graduated from Wade Hampton High School, the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Journalism and an M.Ed. in English. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, and Sigma Delta Chi, Professional Journalistic Society.

Wayne retired from a 30-year career teaching English at Technical College of the Lowcountry. During this time, he also served as Administrator for five years at the Hampton Campus of (then) Beaufort Technical College and briefly as Department Head of the General Studies Department at the main campus.

In 2005, Wayne relocated to Spartanburg, SC, to live near his future wife Susie and continued teaching English as an adjunct faculty at Converse University, Spartanburg Methodist College, University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg Community College and Limestone College. He also worked as a Marketing Communications Specialist for five years at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.

A highlight of Wayne’s working life occurred when Barbara Streisand hired him to be Nick Nolte’s Southern dialect coach during the filming of The Prince of Tides in Beaufort, SC, in 1990. He also coached actors Brad Sullivan and Kate Nelligan for the same production.

During his career at Technical College of the Lowcountry, Wayne was named Educator of the Year (Administrator/Manager Category), Educator of the Year (Teaching Category), received the Governor’s Distinguished Professor Award, and was nominated for the A. Wade Martin Award of the SC State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education. Additionally, he served as a board member and manuscript reviewer for Teaching English in the Two-Year College for the Southeastern Conference on English in the Two-Year College and was Faculty Senate President at Technical College of the Lowcountry1(986-1987).

Wayne served as president of the Hampton County Rotary Club, Hampton-Varnville Jaycees, Hampton County Friends of the Library, and Hampton County University of South Carolina Alumni Association. He also served on the Beaufort Regional Film Commission, as Relay for Life Team Captain for Technical College of the Lowcountry for seven years, at-large board member for the Lowcountry Council of Governments, Community Profile Editor for Hampton’s “SC Great Towns” program, and was a member of Leadership Beaufort’s Class of 1996. He was a volunteer fireman for the Hampton Fire Department for 10 years.

In addition to his wife, Wayne is survived by his brother, Floyd Bernard Zurenda, Jr.; stepdaughters, Julia Kathleen Jackson Dawson (Spencer), of Charleston, SC and Elissa Susanne Jackson Jaques (Brian) of Summerville, SC; six step-grandchildren; nieces Peyton Zurenda Kitchen (Ron) of Beaufort, SC, and France-Olivia Zurenda McKnight (Rhett) of Manning, SC; nephew Charles Baring Zurenda of West Columbia, SC; one great-niece and one great-nephew.

A member of the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Spartanburg, Wayne served as lector, intercessor, usher, and was a member of the Men’s Bible Study Group. He was also a devoted participant in the annual Church of the Advent Adult Mission Team.

A memorial service to celebrate Wayne’s life will take place at the Episcopal Church of the Advent on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 2:00 pm, officiated by The Reverend Paula Griffin and The Reverend Christiana (Christie) Walton. Committal will follow in the Cleveland Bell Tower. The family will receive friends immediately after the committal in the Parish and Community Life Center.

Honorary Pallbearers will be the Adult Mission Team.

Memorials may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Advent, or to the Adult Mission Team at the church, 141 Advent Street, Spartanburg, SC, 29302. The J M Dunbar Funeral Home and Crematory is overseeing arrangements.