Obituary of Wayland Wright Lamar

AIKEN, SC  - Mr. Wayland Wright Lamar, 88, of Aiken, SC, died at home on Monday, January 24, 2021.

Wayland will be remembered for his warmth and charm that exemplified the very best qualities of a Southern gentleman. His infectious laughter and kindness to others made him a beloved friend to many. His love of life and storytelling were legendary and will remain his legacy in the memory by all who knew him.

Born in Augusta, he was the son of George Black Lamar and Margaret Wright Lamar and spent his early years living on Chalkbed Road in Hephzibah. The family often came in to Augusta on weekends to visit with his grandmother, Ethel Walker Wright, at her home on Richmond Ave. There, with a host of aunts, uncles and cousins, (Dawson Teague, Dorothy Wright McLeod and Ethel Wright McCrary) he gained his love for family stories and history.

Wayland Lamar later lived with his grandmother to attend Monte Sano School and the Academy of Richmond County. At the age of fourteen, he was enlisted as his grandmother's driver. She believed that as the owner of the car, she was in control. Wayland also worked closely with his uncle, Russell Wright, at the farms and on many hunting and fishing expeditions. Uncle Russell once had Wayland ride a mule from Richmond County to another farm in Burke County, a distance of 30 miles. They often went ahead of the family to Edisto Island to procure fish, crabs and game to provide all who gathered for a beach holiday.

Before entering college, Wayland joined several Augusta youth as Winant Volunteers, providing assistance in rebuilding England following World War II. Starkey Flythe, Jack Waller, Ethel Wright, Bob Lamar, and Wayland sailed to England to work on various projects in war torn London. While there, they were entertained at the American embassy and a garden party attended by the queen mother, Elizabeth. Wayland graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology where he was a member of Chi Phi Fraternity. While at Tech, Frank Lloyd Wright, came to Atlanta to speak at the School of Architecture. Wayland was able to arrange for his mother and aunt, Eleanor Wright Teague, to come and meet with their famous cousin. He entered the army and served as a second lieutenant at an antiaircraft artillery battery in Korea before returning to Hephzibah to join his father at the kaolin mine that had been started by his uncle, Cal Lamar. Wayland went on to manage the mine and increased the sales of clay to international companies.

Wayland was generous with friends, especially during the Masters golf tournament each April, as he took great pleasure in sending folks for a day of following golf at the legendary Augusta National Golf Club. His only request was that guests return to the house for refreshments and tales of their first impressions of the sights and drama of the contest.
Wayland was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd, where he served on the vestry. He was active in many civic and social organizations including the Bachelors Club of Augusta, Historic Augusta, several county historical societies including Richmond, Edgefield, and Beech Island Historical Society, Historic Aiken Foundation and the South Carolina Historical Society. He served as a past president of the Augusta Symphony, and enjoyed membership in the Augusta Opera and the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society.

As a hobby, Wayland enjoyed the task of researching different family lines to join genealogical societies, he became a member of the Society of Colonial Wars in Georgia, Saint Andrews Society of Savannah, Sons of the Revolution, Henry Laurens chapter of Sons of the American Revolution, Founding Families of Connecticut, and Sons of the Confederacy. Wayland was a fourth generation member of the Beech Island Agricultural Club.

Wayland Lamar is survived by his wife Krista Williams Lamar, son Wayland Wright Lamar, Jr., and daughter Mary Swan Sprague Lamar, a daughter-in-law, Lori Lamar, grandsons Wayland Wright Lamar III and Christian Dunbar Lamar, and sister-in-law Kathryn McGill Lamar. Nieces and nephews will serve as honorary pallbearers to include Wright McLeod, David McLeod, Douglas Teague, Elizabeth Teague Thompson, George Lamar, Henry Lamar, Gray Jackson, Leigh Hearn, and Kathy Rast.

A private graveside service will be held on Saturday, January 30, at Summerville Cemetery. A celebration of life will take place in the future-when we can gather safely at the Wayland Lamar Pavillion at Silver Bluff Audubon Center.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the Church of the Good Shepherd or Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary.

The Historic George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803.649.6234), has charge of arrangements.

Expressions of sympathy for the family may be left by visiting www.georgefuneralhomes.com