Deacon Wayne Thomas Hinmon

Surrounded by family and loved ones, Wayne Thomas Hinmon passed from this life in Newark, DE on

October 7, 2023, following an illness. He was 83.

Wayne was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend to many. He loved

God, he loved his family, he loved his church family and loved his friends – and he loved his golf and his

Philadelphia sports teams too.

Born in Mardela Springs, MD, Wayne was one of the 11 children of Johnny and Rae Hinmon. He was

preceded in death by his brothers Beauford, Brantley, Donzell and Ronnie and his sisters Geraldine,

Dorothea and Arvonia.

Wayne was a graduate of Mary N. Smith High School in Accomac, VA and attended St. Paul’s College in

Lawrenceville, VA. During high school, Wayne starred on the football, track & field and baseball teams.

He also played running back on the St. Paul’s football team.

In 1961, he moved to Philadelphia, where he met Maude Esther Robinson, who became his wife. Wayne

and Esther were both living with their older sisters when they met. They were married for 60 years.

In Philadelphia, he worked for General Electric for many years before moving the family to Newark, DE,

in 1974, where he resided until his death. In Delaware, he worked in various roles, including

construction supervisor, at Delmarva Power & Light Co.’s Edgemoor, DE, plant.

Wayne was the go-to guy for his family, church and friends. Whenever anyone needed help, Wayne was

always there to lend a hand or provide anything that was needed.

He was a jack of all trades who performed his work with near perfection, whether it was fixing the

brakes or transmission on his car, building the deck on his house or renovating the bathroom. Painting,

hammering, sawing – he could do it all.

In 2013, he became a Deacon at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Newark, DE, where he sang in the choir, visited

the sick and shut-in and church members residing in nursing homes, taught Sunday school, and with

Esther, helped lead the marriage ministry. He also volunteered with Meals on Wheels, delivering food to

senior citizens in the Newark, DE area.

In the early 80s, Wayne picked up a new activity – golf and it became of his true passions for the next

35-plus years. An avid golfer, Wayne was a member of Three Little Bakers and Deerfield golf clubs,

where he spent many weekends trying to knock that small round ball into that small round hole.

Everyone knew Wayne at Deerfield. Once when one of his sons called the club to ask about buying him a

gift, the person who answered the phone said the club didn’t give out information about its members,

but when his son said “my dad’s name is Wayne,” the person said “Ohh, Wayne…he’s here alllll the

time.” After that revelation, his sons purchased for him a gift card for cart rentals, a truly-appreciated

gift.

One of Wayne’s biggest sports highlights was celebrating with his sons when his beloved Philadelphia

Eagles won the 2018 Super Bowl.

He is survived by his wife, Esther; sons William, Derrick (Maria), Darren, Kendal (Robin), and Jason;

granddaughters Elizabeth, Hadley, Macy and Lilia; his siblings Leander, Keith and Sherry, many nieces

and nephews and cousins and more friends than you could count.