MSGT M. Wayne Walters, USMC, Ret., 63, of Columbia, passed away peacefully at the home of his son in Mt. Pleasant on Friday, December 22, 2017. The son of the late David Merrill Walters and Carrie Harrelson Walters, he was married to Elizabeth "Libby" Ballard Walters for 40 years. Wayne entered the United States Marine Corps upon graduating High School. He was a decorated wartime veteran and retired after 22 years of service.

Wayne embodied the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God with all of your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. He leveraged his time, talents and treasures for the good of others in service to the Lord. He never met a stranger and walked through every season of life with humor and hard work.

In addition to his wife, survivors include his son, Josh Walters (Katie); daughters, Ashley Walters and Candi Shehi (James) ; 12 grandchildren; sister, Jean Copeland (James); nieces, Jamie Bigham, Janice Farmer (Aubary); and mother-in-law, Edna Ballard.

The funeral service will be held 11 o'clock, Thursday, December 28th, at North Trenholm Baptist Church, 6515 North Trenholm Road, Columbia. Interment will precede the service in Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 10 o'clock. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 5 until 7 o'clock, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia.

Memorials can be made to fund the Youth Building of North Trenholm Baptist Church, 6515 North Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC, 29206.

The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Mary Ackerman and Gretchen Byars, MSN, of South Carolina Oncology Associates in addition to Dr. James Altieri, his friend and family physician.