Leonard Wayne High

Leonard Wayne High, 79, of Pauline, SC, was escorted to his Heavenly home at 1:45 am on May 1, 2026 while surrounded by his daughter; Michelle and granddaughters; Emily and Abbie. He was greeted by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and reunited with his parents, Leonard and Louise High. Wayne was also a faithful member of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Pauline, SC.

Wayne lived life with two simple rules: the more friends you have, the further you will go in life, and never put off tomorrow what you can do today. And if you knew him, you knew he didn’t just say those things—he lived by them every single day. He was the kind of man who greeted the sunrise like it had been waiting just for him. If the sun was up, Wayne was outside—plowing, bush hogging, planting, cutting grass, or fixing something that didn’t quite meet his standards. He might ask for help now and then, but truth be told, no one could ever get to it fast enough—or do it good enough.

Wayne retired from Williams Gas Pipeline Company after more than 20 years as a Chief, but “retirement” never slowed him down. Much of his retirement was spent doing what he loved, managing property for people that he loved, respected, and admired. Wayne never met a meal he didn’t look forward to. In fact, most outings were carefully planned around one. Whether it was a quick bite or a full gathering, he loved sitting down with friends and family, sharing stories and laughter over good food. And when he wasn’t out eating, he was making sure others were fed—especially when it came to his famous catfish stew that he prepared for The Harry Hampton Foundation and the SCDNR Spartanburg Mobility Hunt every year, and his hash that he loved to cook and hand out. He lived for traditions that brought people together year after year.

More than anything, Wayne loved his family. He is survived by his loving wife of over 56 years, Paula High. Also left to cherish his memory are his daughter, son and their spouses: Michelle and Andrew Patton of Pauline, SC, and Kevin High and Jerry Godes of Santa Cruz, CA.His daughter was the center of his world, and he fought hard—right up until the end—just to have a little more time with her. Her husband, Andrew, was so much more than a son-in-law. He was Wayne’s right-hand man—his driver, his helper, his go-to for anything and everything. Andrew stood by him through it all, and though Wayne wasn’t always one to say it out loud, he loved him like a son. Because of Andrew, Wayne found peace in knowing his family would be taken care of.

Wayne was the proud grandfather of three amazing granddaughters: Emily Patton and Abbie Patton of Pauline, SC, and Violet High-Godes of Santa Cruz, CA. His granddaughters were his pride and joy, and they gave him every reason to keep pushing forward. He poured his love and knowledge into them, teaching them about life, the outdoors, how important an education is, and what it meant to be strong. Emily shares his love for hunting, fishing, and playing golf. He cherished every call, every trip, and every story about her adventures. He made sure she was always prepared and looked after. Abbie, on the other hand, might not have loved the outdoors, but she had a way of making Wayne laugh like no one else. She always brought a smile to his face. He looked forward to seeing her even if she did always come in and pull on his toes to annoy him! At least it woke him up on his sleepy days. In the last 6 months, the two grew especially close, and Abbie’s care and devotion meant the world to him as she helped him through some of his hardest days. They had a connection like no other. Though distance kept him from seeing Violet as often as he would have liked, he treasured every moment he had with her—especially the time they spent fishing and gathering watermelons from the garden together. Wayne was a proud “Poppy”. Wayne is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Ray and Susan High with whom he shared a lifetime of memories, laughter, and plenty of good-natured aggravation.

Wayne’s legacy isn’t just in the land he worked or the things he built—it’s in the people he loved, the lessons he passed down, and the memories that will live on through his children and grandchildren. He may have left this earth, but if there’s work to be done or a meal to be shared—you can bet Wayne is already there, getting a head start. And for anyone who knew him well—it won’t be hard to picture him now, hugging all the family that left before him, and finding the nearest tractor to ride with his dad Leonard and the friends that left him too early.

Visitation will be 11:30 am-12:45 pm on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at J. M. Dunbar Funeral Home, 690 Southport Road, Roebuck, SC 29376. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 pm in the chapel, conducted by Rev. Harold Johnson and Rev. James McMakin. Burial will immediately follow in Fort Prince Memorial Gardens, 126 Fort Prince Road, Wellford, SC 29385.

In memory of Wayne, contributions may be made to the Harry Hampton Wildlife Fund, P.O. Box 2641, Columbia SC 29202.