Throughout his life, he was active in the community in front and behind the scenes, donating very generously of his time and monetary gifts towards his passions: three of which were the History Museum of Burke County, The Burke County Library archives, and South Mountain Childrens Home. He loved to travel abroad, having visited nineteen different countries and took over thousands of pictures to share with family and friends.
Wayne is survived by numerous close and extended cousins in Burke and Cleveland counties, Georgia and beyond.
He will be entombed alongside his parents at Burke Memorial Park Mausoleum. A simple service will be at 2pm, on Saturday, July 26, 2025 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, and because of Waynes love for history, memorial contributions may be made to either the History Museum of Burke County, PO Box 416, Morganton, NC 28680 or Preservation North Carolina, PO Box 27644, Raleigh, NC 27611-7644 or the Ava Gardner Museum, 325 E. Market St., Smithfield, NC 27577.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Tribute Wall
Leave a tribute for Wayne Weaver Hitt.
Wayne will be well remembered in our Morganton High School Class of 1953 . He was quiet and very Knowledgeable.
Wayne was a wonderful man. A great storyteller, a lover of the arts, of history, and a supporter of the neediest among us. He will be missed at the History Museum- and by those who knew and loved him. Rest in peace.
Morganton and Burke County has lost one of their most knowledgeable historians. I’ve spent many hours volunteering with Wayne at the History Museum of Burke County. He was eager to share his knowledge of the area with us volunteers and our many visitors. He also shared some hilarious stories of growing up here and some the characters he encountered over the years. He will be missed immensely. May he rest in peace.
Wayne did so much to see that the history of Burke County is preserved and interpreted. He shared his substantial knowledge about Burke County with countless individuals through History Museum guided tours, individual and small group conversations, photography, and more. He was always willing to help others record history as it happened and lent his photography skills to Historic Burke Foundation numerous times, documenting living history events at the Charles McDowell House and commemorative crossings of the Catawba River. It wouild be interesting to know how many hours he invested in the History Museum, including the old Train Depot, the museum proper, checking mail at the post office, meeting with folks from the Carolina Room at the Burke County Public Library and on and on. He worked five days a week as volunteer Assistant Curator of the History Museum for many years. His time at the History Museum comprised a second career after he closed his camera shop. I am one of the people who benefited from his tutelage and enjoyed his company. He gave generously of his time, skills, and money. He leaves a substantial void and will be greatly missed.
Wayne was a kind and patient man. He endured many of my visits to his store when I was a young man.
Our condolences to family and friends for the loss of Wayne. He was always an interesting and sweet person to talk to when he came to the cleaners weekly. Rest in peace. The staff at Valdese Cleaners
Wayne Weaver helped to make wonderful memories for all of our families! He was so kind to take us water skiing all day long for many summers at lake James. Christmas won’t be the same without him to take our group picture at the Rollins get together.
We have known Wayne for a long time, as he was one of the Morganton luminaries and always had a good word for those he met and got to know. He will definitely be missed by all who met and got to know him.
Wayne weaver was a cousin and friend. Always enjoyed being with him when during times at Easter and special events. Always sharing his time with me. Always looked forward to having him be with family for Thanksgiving… will miss him!😔
Morganton has lost one of its most knowledgeable historians. Wayne was a great mind. He had a wealth of knowledge about Morganton and Burke County history. I’ve spent many hours volunteering with him at the History Museum of Burke County. He was eager to share his knowledge with all of us volunteers and our visitors. I was amazed at his knowledge of Broadway and Hollywood musicals, movies and actors. He shared many hilarious stories of growing up in Morganton and the characters he encountered over the years at his photography business. He lived his life on his terms right up until the end. I am so glad I had the privilege to get to know him. I will miss him, but in the words of Walt Disney, “Don’t be sad it’s over, be glad it happened”.