Wayne Anthony Baumgardner

DUE TO THE INCLIMATE WEATHER THE ARRANGMENTS HAVE CHANGED LOCATION AND WILL BE HELD AT MERCER FUNERAL HOME, 1231 WEST CUMBERLAND ROAD, BLUEFIELD, WV Wayne Anthony Baumgardner, 56, passed on Sunday, January 10, 2016 at his home in Woodstock, Georgia. Born on November 6, 1959 in Bluefield, WV, he was the son of the late Clarence Oliver and Ernestine Law Baumgardner. He dedicated his life to Christ at an early age at Mount Zion Baptist Church and continued his faithfulness at First Baptist Church, Dr. Charles Stanley, pastor, where he, at one time, was also employed as a videographer. He attended public schools in Bluefield and graduated from Bluefield High School as an honor student in 1978. He was a star member of his Bluefield Beaver High School basketball and football teams and received an academic and football scholarship to Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, North Carolina. His football stats were outstanding and some of his records still stand today. He graduated from Wake Forest University in 1982 with a BA Degree in Speech Communications and Theatre Arts. After trying out for the Dallas Cowboys’ football team, Wayne was cut in the final round. He returned to Bluefield to work as a sportscaster at WVVA television station. Wayne had a great desire to expand his career; therefore, he decided to relocate to Atlanta, Georgia. There his career began to grow and flourish. His career involved being employed with or contracted by CNN, ESPN, instructor at Alcorn State University, InTouch Ministries, filming for Tyler Perry, Primerica and Georgia Public Broadcasting, where he won two regional Emmys for documentaries in 2005 and 2010. Married to his former spouse, Cindy Baumgardner in 1996, from their union two beautiful daughters were born, which was the love of his life, Brooke, 15 years old and Hannah, 11. When he began his own video/production company, he named his business after his two daughters: The Brooke and Hannah TV, Inc. All who knew Wayne will miss his warm smile, his constant talking and laughing, his work ethics and being a friend. He loved working and saw each job as a challenge to be achieved successfully. His mission was always to make a situation better than he had found it. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Ernestine Baumgardner. Cherishing his memory are his daughters: Brooke and Hannah, Atlanta, GA; sister, Cynthia (Frank) Wooten, Columbus, OH; brothers: John Thomas Baumgardner, Bronx, NY, William (Chuck) Baumgardner, Bluefield, WV; aunts: Vivian Baumgardner, Bluefield, WV; Yolanda (Murjan) Rasheed, Atlanta, GA; Yvonne Ealy, Cincinnati, OH; and Estelle Kearny, Philadelphia, PA; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral services will be held on January 25, 2016 at Mercer Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 PM with the Rev. J. Palmer, III officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2p.m.at the funeral home with the celebration of life service following. Interment will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery, Bluefield, Virginia. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Mercer Funeral Home, 1231 W. Cumberland Road, Bluefield, WV 24701

Wayne Anthony Baumgardner

November 6, 1961 - January 10, 2016