Joseph Wayne Anthony

Joseph Wayne Anthony, age 72, stepped over into his heavenly home with Jesus on October 27, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer. Wayne was born in Butler, Georgia, on May 22, 1952, and grew up nearby in Geneva, Georgia. 

He was a master’s degree graduate of Georgia Southern University, and he loved his life’s work in various sales and marketing positions in both the residential and commercial/industrial lighting industries where he met his many treasured lifelong friends. Recreationally, he loved to spend his time with his family more than anything, and he especially loved his time at the beach with them where he had a second home for almost 20 years. Some of his greatest pleasures were a good beach sunset followed by a good seafood meal and a movie or TV series. 

Wayne’s greatest goal in life was to share the gospel of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to as many as would hear. He regularly bombarded the inbox of his family and friends with encouraging messages about life with Jesus because he wanted them to be with him in heaven for eternity. He attended The Orchard Church when at home in Collierville, TN, and attended the Glennville Methodist Church as he came back home to his residence in Glennville, GA. 

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Catherine and Harris Anthony, and his brother David Marshall Anthony, as well as his mother and father-in-law Gwen and Maxwell Smith and son-in-law Garret Pilant. 

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Celia Smith Anthony; two daughters, Jennifer Beyer (Andy) and Claire Pennel (Wes); four grandchildren whom he adored, Addison Pilant, Mckenna Pilant, Kate Pennel, and Roman Pennel; two brothers and a sister, Donald Anthony, Kaye Harris (Rex), and Mark Anthony. Wayne is also survived by Celia’s siblings whom he considered his own brothers and sisters: Sylvia Bailey (Judd), Laura Allen (Kerry), David Smith (Phyllis), and Daniel Smith, along with his nieces and nephews, Michael Anthony, David Anthony, Katelyn Shy, Catherine Anthony, David Anthony, Derek Bailey, Josh Bailey, Jessica Allen, Joseph Allen, Hunter Smith, Keaton Smith, Emma Smith, Ally Smith and Noel Watkins. 

Celia and family would like to express their love to all of the persistent prayer warriors over this past year and want to express their deepest gratitude to all of the best medical servant caregivers that anyone could have ever hoped for, especially to Dr. Stephen Behrman and his staff, Dr. William Walsh, Dr. Aron Chary, Dr. Ashley Wright, and Dr. Glen Dasher.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Orchard Church in Collierville, TN; to the Glennville Methodist Church, Glennville, GA; or to the Baptist Reynolds Hospice House, Collierville, TN.

Visitation will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Brannen Family Funeral Services. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the chapel of Brannen Family Funeral Services with Rev. Steve Posey officiating. Burial will follow in Glennville City Cemetery. 

Care and Services are entrusted to Brannen Family Funeral Services, Glennville, Georgia. "Our Family Serving Your Family."