Mr. Wayne Franklin Wooten, CPA, age 73, passed away on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his loving family while awaiting a lung transplant after a courageous six-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
Wayne was the beloved husband of Kathryn Wooten, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage. Their love story began in childhood—Wayne was nine and Kathryn was six when she became his neighbor—and it grew into a lifelong partnership rooted in devotion, friendship, and shared purpose.
Wayne dedicated his life to his profession and to serving others. As of January 2026, he had been preparing taxes for 50 years. He opened his accounting practice in January 1979, where Kathryn worked alongside him as office manager and tax accountant for 47 years. One of the proudest moments of his career came in 1984 when he earned his CPA certification. Wayne truly loved his clients and was unwavering in his commitment to them—so much so that he was still working from his intensive care hospital bed.
Wayne’s presence was anything but small. As his son Zack shared at his bedside, “You’re the biggest man I know.” Wayne was a fighter with a big heart, deeply loved by his family, friends, and clients alike.
Music was one of Wayne’s great passions. A true old-time rock ‘n’ roll musician, he formed his first band at age 15—one that even played at Kathryn’s 12th birthday party. Wayne could play nearly every instrument, but the drums were his first love. During his college years, he traveled throughout the Carolinas and Georgia on weekends as the drummer for a Rock Hill gospel group called The Ambassadors.
Wayne and Kathryn shared a deep love of travel and spent their years together exploring beaches, lakes, and destinations around the world. When their son Joshua joined the U.S. Navy in 2008, they took up shag dancing which became a joyful and cherished part of their lives. They were active members of multiple shag clubs from North Myrtle Beach to Rock Hill to Lake Wylie, where they were embraced like family.
Above all, Wayne was a man of faith. He and Kathryn shared a deep love for their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and were members of MorningStar Church in Fort Mill since its founding in 2004.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Hezekiah & Annie Wise Wooten.
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn; sons, Wayne Wooten II (Amanda), and Josh Wooten (Nana Yamamoto), and Zack Wooten; grandsons, Steven Yamamoto, and Julius Yamamoto-Wooten, and a granddaughter, Vanessa Hamilton.
The family will receive friends on Friday evening, February 13, 2026 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel, 2133 Ebenezer Rd, Rock Hill, SC, 29732. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 2:00pm at MorningStar Fellowship Church, 375 Star Light Dr, Fort Mill, SC, 29715.
Wayne will be remembered for his dedication, kindness, faith, music, and the love he poured into everyone fortunate enough to know him.
In memory of Wayne, donations may be made to a memorial fund at https://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/K3NWRW/#/.
Condolences can be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net.