Exceeding Expectations

found in the Blue Ridge foothills. Their mother Juanita instilled ahealthy dose of self-confidence in each of her children: “Just try yourbest,” she would say, “You can do whatever you set your mind to do!”They also learned to manage money and to avoid debt. When Claudeand Juanita Wayne had the opportunity in 1960 to buy 142 acres of theold Archer Farm in western Cabarrus County, so that they would haveenough room for their growing family, Claude was able to pay fromsavings all but $1,000 of the purchase price. He borrowed that balance,but paid it back in less than a year through the sale of timber off thefarm.Juanita Stone WayneBorn February 9, 1933Keith’s mother, Juanita StoneWayne, is pictured here standingbarefoot in front of her fatherHarely S. Stone. Juanita’s mother,Nettie, is holding her brother,Alan, and older sister Nan issitting in front, circa 1938.“You can dowhatever youset your mindto do!”- Juanita Stone WayneKeith’s MotherBob Greene, a friend of Keith and Eric Wayne who has known themfor about 30 years, and has served as their legal counsel on occasion,says that the young men were “white hat” clients who wanted to do the“right thing” in their business dealings. He said that once he met theirparents, Claude and Juanita, he realized that the senior Waynes werethe capstone of the Wayne family, and could immediately see wherethe mindset of the younger Waynes originated. The parents modestlyclaim, however, that they only passed along the lessons learned in turnfrom their parents as they were growing up in the shadow of the BlueRidge.bIn 1976, young Keith Wayne found himself in need of steadyemployment and a place to live. Keith’s sister Sylvia was married toDon Castor, and Keith began to date Don’s sister Ann. In true mountainfashion, he and Ann eloped to Powder Springs, Georgia, where theywere married. They returned to North Carolina through Asheville, thenspent a week-long honeymoon visiting at the home of Keith’s maternalgrandfather Harley S. Stone in Wilkes County. When the young couplereturned home to Kannapolis, they lived for a time with Keith’s parentsuntil Keith purchased 15 acres of his parents’ property on which he andAnn lived in a mobile home. Rather than completing high school, Keithfound himself working beside his father and brothers at the familysawmill, in order to earn a living for his new family that included sonIsaiah, born in 1977.