Rev. Walter Wayne Crenshaw

Walter “Wayne” Crenshaw, age 94, resident of Brandon, Mississippi, was called to his Heavenly Home on November 21st of 2023, from Jasper County Hospital/Nursing Home, Bay Springs, Mississippi.

Rev. Crenshaw was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, on August 10, 1929, to Arlie and Evie Beall Crenshaw. He grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Philadelphia High School. He then moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where he was employed at McKesson & Robbins. He would come home to Philadelphia on weekends where he attended First Baptist Church. This is when he and Betty Beckham began to date. It was in this time where he felt God calling him into Christian ministry. He decided to attend Clarke Memorial College full-time to begin the journey of his life's true purpose, service to the Lord.

He then moved to Fort Worth, Texas, to attend Bible Baptist College. His sweet relationship with Betty continued by mail. That blue stationery of his fell into the Beckham mailbox daily. When home in Philadelphia for Christmas break, he asked Betty to marry him to which she agreed. After finishing his studies in Texas, Wayne began pastoring churches in Mississippi. He also attended Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans.

Rev. Crenshaw served as Pastor of churches in four states for over 50 years including Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Pennsylvania. His last full-time pastorate before his retirement was at Crossroads Baptist Church in Pelahatchie, Mississippi. After his retirement, he and his wife were appointed and served as members of the North America Mission Board Volunteer Service Corps to serve in areas across the USA. They also enjoyed working as volunteers at Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina. Rev. Crenshaw also volunteered to work in foreign countries, including Japan, Belize, and Ukraine, to build churches in support of growing Christian communities. He always had a ready testimony wherever he travelled.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Betty Beckham Crenshaw, and three children: Daughter, Cristie Crenshaw Rabalais (Leon) of Brandon, MS; Sons, Randall Wayne Crenshaw (Barbara) of Colleyville, TX; and John Mark Crenshaw (Katie) of York, PA.; 6 Grandchildren; Dr. Nancy Rabalais DeTrana of Lenoir City, TN; Jamie Rabalais Mitchell (Philip) of Montgomery, AL; Anna Crenshaw of Flower Mound, TX; Casey Dodd (Justin) of Southlake, TX; John Walker Crenshaw, of Dover, PA, and Kathryn Crenshaw Hahn (Nik) of York, PA and Ten great-grandchildren. One dear grandson, Michael Crenshaw, preceded him to Heaven. He and Mike are having a grand Heavenly reunion.

Rev. and Mrs. Crenshaw have been members of Brandon Baptist Church since 2004. Rev. Crenshaw will always be remembered as someone who could light up a room, never met a stranger, planted beautiful vegetable gardens, and loved to go fishing at the drop of a hat. But his greatest legacy connecting thousands to Jesus Christ. Our earthly loss is Heaven’s gain.

In lieu of flowers, consideration of support for the Wayne & Betty Crenshaw Student Scholarship fund of Mississippi College (200 S. Capital St, Clinton, MS. 39056) is greatly appreciated. https://go.mc.edu/register/giving 

A Celebration of Rev. Crenshaw’s Life will be at 10:00am Monday, November 27, 2023 at Brandon Baptist Church with visitation beginning at 9:00am. Burial will follow at Cross Roads Cemetery.