James Wayne "Fatrat" Everhart

James Wayne “Fatrat” Everhart, 79, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, May 26, 2024, in Lexington, North Carolina.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, May 31, 2024, at the Davidson Funeral Home Chapel in Winston-Salem with Pastor Rodney Merill officiating services.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at Davidson Funeral Home in Winston-Salem.

Wayne was born on April 10, 1945, in Forsyth County to the late Jim and Nonia Everhart. Wayne worked for 32 years as a millwright for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Before and during this time, he served in the U.S. Army and the Army National Guard. As a young man, Wayne met his wife, Alice, while working at Dewy’s Bakery, and the two married in July of 1966. Throughout the years, Wayne enjoyed coaching his girls’ softball teams, traveling, southern gospel music, carpentry work, fishing, and NASCAR racing. As the owner of North Davidson BBQ, Inc., Wayne spent many Saturdays with friends pit-cooking pork shoulders, Boston butts, and turkeys. In 2016, Wayne turned to writing and authored an autobiography titled My Life Experiences, which takes readers on a journey through his days as a boy stealing B&G Apple Pies to growing older and saying goodbye to a lifelong friend. Through the book's adventures, one may not see much out of the ordinary; however, his friends, family, and those who knew him saw his life as rather extraordinary. Wayne treasured time with family and friends and trips to his beach house in Myrtle Beach. Wayne was preceded in death by his sisters, Marjorie Everhart Keaton and Judy Everhart Page.

Surviving are his wife, Alice Everhart; two daughters, Darrie Everhart Shoaf (David) of Lexington and Thessia Everhart Roberts (Stewart) of Welcome; son, Matthew Everhart (Jamie) of Lexington; nine grandchildren, Alyson, Zack (Emily), Mitchell, Breanna, Mckenzie, Kassidy, Kayla (Griffin), McKayla, and Jared; three great-grandchildren, Sofia, Kaiden, and James; sister, Ann Robertson (Richard) of Advance; his little buddy Maltese, Wally, and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The Everhart Family would like to give a special thank you to the caregivers of Amedysis Home Health Care for their compassion in the services provided to Wayne.

Memorials may be made to Davidson County Meals on Wheels or the Life Center of Davidson County.

Online condolences may be made at www.davidsonfuneralhome.net