Wayne Sasser

Harold Wayne Sasser passed away peacefully at home in Conyers, GA, surrounded by his family on Tuesday, October 17, 2017. He was 91 years young. Wayne grew up in the rural south Georgia town of Sardis, population 580 in 1930. He was the eldest of nine children born to Laura Elizabeth (Bessie) and Cardell Sasser on April 1, 1926. Times were hard in the 20's and 30's. Wayne was needed to help pick cotton, grow their food, tend the animals and help with the moonshine business. Schooling had to take a back seat, but Wayne's true passions were discovered right there on that farm-horses and guitars. He got a Sears & Roebuck guitar and learned to play it. When WWII called, Wayne willingly answered by joining the Army. As he used to like to say, 'I never had it so good.' He had good clothes, shoes to wear, all the food he wanted to eat and a bed all his own to sleep in every night. The physical conditioning was nothing compared to what he had been used to on the farm, and it was hard for him to understand why some of the other guys complained so much. With frozen feet in England, he almost underwent amputation. But he was able to persuade the doctors otherwise and went from the trenches to being a driver for Army officials. After serving our country, he came home to find that his family had moved to Atlanta due to hard times. Wayne found work as a laundry man, but longed to return to the country. He finally got to do that in 1955 when he bought a little Jim Walter house on 5 acres way out in Conyers, GA. The Bar S Ranch was born. There was no I-20, no paved roads. Why, there were still hitching rails in downtown Conyers! It was ideal for him. He was able to start accumulating his animals again-horses, pigs, goats, chickens and gardening. And by this time, he was regularly playing in a band with friends and teaching his son, Larry, to play the guitar and dobro. Subsidized by driving a school bus, the laundry route became less and less and the horse training became more and more, until it was all horses. Finally, Wayne's dream had come true. He had his horses, his son on the Grand Ole Opry, and daughters out showing horses and starting their own way in life. Every chance there was, the family got together to sing and play and continued until August, 2017. And the horse business-no one had a better reputation as a horseman and show judge. He won so many titles that it would be impossible to list them all here. Some say he was the original horse whisperer. Was this man a success? All who know Wayne would have to say a hearty, 'Yes!' He exemplified a love for life that many strive for, but few attain. And he did. He may have hated mending all those pasture fences, but he loved what was inside the fences of his world-his family, God, country, music and life. He influenced countless young people through 4-H, the school bus, church and teaching them about horses and God. Surviving are his children, Larry Sasser (Evelyn), Conyers, GA; Gayle Kreckman (Chuck), Newnan, GA; Sonja O'Neal (Rick), Villa Rica, GA; Trina DeRosia (Clint), Conyers, GA; and Sharmin Barton, Conyers, GA; 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Also surviving are his siblings, Elizabeth Collins, Stockbridge, GA; Charles (Dot) Sasser, Conyers, GA; Helen Castleberry, Atlanta, GA; and Roy (Joanne) Sasser, Richmond Hill, GA. Wayne was preceded in death by his spouses Estelle Wofford White, Amina Brooks Sasser and Elsie Gough Sasser; his parents, Bessie and Cardell Sasser; brothers, Donald Sasser, Herman Sasser, Jimmy Sasser and Cardell Sasser; and grandsons, Stacey Sasser and Michael Barton. Funeral Services will be held Friday, October 20, 2017 at 3:30 p.m. at Scot Ward's Green Meadow Chapel with Pastor Howard Greer officiating; interment will follow at Green Meadow Memorial Gardens. Family will receive friends Thursday, October 19, 2017 from 5 until 9 p.m. and Friday from 12 until 3:30 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Condolences may be submitted on-line at www.scotward.com. Scot Ward Funeral Services, 699 American Legion Rd., Conyers, GA, 770-483-7216.

Wayne Sasser

April 1, 1926 - October 17, 2017