Obituary for Waynett A. "Wayne" Sobers Jr.
Due to the presence of COVID-19, respect for the lives and well-being of others, and in accordance with the church's seating accommodation, please respect the family’s difficult decisions in reserving a select number of mourners and church staff to attend.
Here is the link to view the memorial service via live stream on Saturday, February 26 at 11 a.m. If you visit the web page before the event begins, you can sign up to get notified when the stream goes live. The live stream will also be available for online playback for up to six months after the service should you miss it at the scheduled time:
https://evt.live/waynett-a-sobers-jr
Waynett A. “Wayne” Sobers Jr. led his life by a simple maxim: “No bad days.” While working at The Equitable in the 1990’s, Wayne had what he calls “a philosophical attitudinal change” leading him to decide, “I refuse to have a bad day. I will not allow them!” He lived by that mantra ever since and discovered that, “All days are good, but some are just better than others.” His advice to everyone is, “Don’t wait for outside conditions to determine whether your day will be good or bad. Decide that every day is a good day, and it will be.”
Since Wayne would not stand for bad days in his life, let’s not let this be one either. Instead, let us celebrate the life of a man who inspired many and touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Wayne passed away in White Plains, New York on Monday, January 24, 2022. He was born the second child to Waynett A. “Arthur” Sobers, Sr. and Athlene A. (Ghyll) Sobers on February 15, 1937 in the Bronx, New York. His sister Jeannette was born four years earlier.
Just prior to graduating Officer Candidate School (OCS) in 1959 and starting his career in the Navy, Wayne met Audrey Lorraine Britton. They were married on October 8, 1962. From this marriage, a son, Loren Scott Sobers (a.k.a. Baqiy Wali Asad) was born. After the passing of Audrey on September 10, 1967, Wayne met Yvonne Cecile Barrett. They were married on August 23, 1969. From this marriage came two (2) additional children, Julian Christopher and Stephanie Cecile Sobers. In 1974, Wayne and Yvonne moved their family from the Bronx to Chappaqua, New York where they continued raising their three children and remained for twenty-six years before Wayne and Yvonne relocated to White Plains.
Wayne’s trek to success is the epitome of the inspirational poem “Don’t Quit” written by Edgar A. Guest in the 1920s. Wayne was a successful African-American executive who has been a meteorologist, U.S. Navy Officer for seven years attaining the rank of Lieutenant, entrepreneur, marketer, media guru, automobile dealer, financial adviser, and certified professional life and business coach. Companies Wayne has either been employed by or established include the U.S. Weather Bureau, W.A. Sobers Associates Inc. (a firm specializing in all forms of insurance), Ebony Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, E.G.G. Dallas Broadcasting Inc., Owner/Operator of Sobers Chevrolet Inc., Wayvon (a small business consulting company), AXA/Equitable, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, Westchester Business Institute (now College of Westchester), Mercy College, and Wachovia Bank. Additionally, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Equitable Variable Life Insurance Company (EVLICO) and a Board Member and Treasurer of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB).
He was also a mentor to many African American sisters and brothers. He volunteered at Westchester Community College teaching English as a second language. Up until his passing, he was a volunteer member of Grandpas United of the White Plains Youth Bureau. The multigenerational mentorship initiative pairs young people with volunteer granddads to foster brighter futures. In 2020, he was honored with a Community Service Award for his contributions. Of this experience he said “I love this organization, and working with the other grandpas is so heartwarming…Everyone involved works earnestly to get the best outcomes for the youth of White Plains, and that means so much to so many of the kids we mentor.”
In his youth, Wayne fell in love with trains. In fact, he lived most of his life within close proximity of The Harlem (railroad) Line. In 2018 he published a book by the name of The Harlem Line: Lessons Learned Along The Way in which he dedicated to his “wonderful, loving and talented granddaughters, Makala, Julia and Cayden with the hope that it will inspire each of them to excel in their endeavors, and maximize their efforts and talents in all that they do in their lifetime.”
Wayne was preceded by his father, mother and sister Jeannette (Sobers) Hinson. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife Yvonne of over 52 years and 5 months, children Baqiy Wali Asad, Julian (Katinia) Sobers and Stephanie (Brian) Shacochis, granddaughters Makala Sobers, Julia Sobers and Cayden Shacochis, nephew Donald L. (Patricia) Hinson Jr., nieces Lori Hinson and Lisa Hinson, many loving relatives and beloved friends and treasured associates.
He was always there to listen, give advice or support to so many family members, friends and the youth that he loved to mentor. Wayne inspired many and touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him.
The family is appreciative of the outpouring of love, messages, calls and visits from relatives and friends. Your words of comfort have been a welcome respite during this difficult period of bereavement.
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The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that Waynett Sobers, Jr. & family entrusted his care & the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Sobers family during their time of bereavement.
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Private cremation has already been held. But there will be a Memorial Service livestreamed, the basic information for which is posted here above & below, and the link to watch will be available/live on that day, Feb. 26th, & up to 6 months afterwards. Please still leave condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in his honor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As a lasting tribute, In Lieu of flowers the family kindly instead prefers a contribution may be made in his name/memory/honor to the White Plains Youth Bureau, 11 Amherst Place, White Plains, NY 10601 (may be done on your own or also through the donation tab/link here in website at the bottom of this page). As cremation has already occurred, NO flowers should be sent to the funeral home, though you may also choose to plant a tree in his name/memory/honor as another lasting tribute, or despite the family's contribution request, possibly send flowers to the family. The Family Thanks You!
Here is the link to view the memorial service via live stream on Saturday, February 26 at 11 a.m. If you visit the web page before the event begins, you can sign up to get notified when the stream goes live. The live stream will also be available for online playback for up to six months after the service should you miss it at the scheduled time:
https://evt.live/waynett-a-sobers-jr
Waynett A. “Wayne” Sobers Jr. led his life by a simple maxim: “No bad days.” While working at The Equitable in the 1990’s, Wayne had what he calls “a philosophical attitudinal change” leading him to decide, “I refuse to have a bad day. I will not allow them!” He lived by that mantra ever since and discovered that, “All days are good, but some are just better than others.” His advice to everyone is, “Don’t wait for outside conditions to determine whether your day will be good or bad. Decide that every day is a good day, and it will be.”
Since Wayne would not stand for bad days in his life, let’s not let this be one either. Instead, let us celebrate the life of a man who inspired many and touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Wayne passed away in White Plains, New York on Monday, January 24, 2022. He was born the second child to Waynett A. “Arthur” Sobers, Sr. and Athlene A. (Ghyll) Sobers on February 15, 1937 in the Bronx, New York. His sister Jeannette was born four years earlier.
Just prior to graduating Officer Candidate School (OCS) in 1959 and starting his career in the Navy, Wayne met Audrey Lorraine Britton. They were married on October 8, 1962. From this marriage, a son, Loren Scott Sobers (a.k.a. Baqiy Wali Asad) was born. After the passing of Audrey on September 10, 1967, Wayne met Yvonne Cecile Barrett. They were married on August 23, 1969. From this marriage came two (2) additional children, Julian Christopher and Stephanie Cecile Sobers. In 1974, Wayne and Yvonne moved their family from the Bronx to Chappaqua, New York where they continued raising their three children and remained for twenty-six years before Wayne and Yvonne relocated to White Plains.
Wayne’s trek to success is the epitome of the inspirational poem “Don’t Quit” written by Edgar A. Guest in the 1920s. Wayne was a successful African-American executive who has been a meteorologist, U.S. Navy Officer for seven years attaining the rank of Lieutenant, entrepreneur, marketer, media guru, automobile dealer, financial adviser, and certified professional life and business coach. Companies Wayne has either been employed by or established include the U.S. Weather Bureau, W.A. Sobers Associates Inc. (a firm specializing in all forms of insurance), Ebony Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, E.G.G. Dallas Broadcasting Inc., Owner/Operator of Sobers Chevrolet Inc., Wayvon (a small business consulting company), AXA/Equitable, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, Westchester Business Institute (now College of Westchester), Mercy College, and Wachovia Bank. Additionally, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Equitable Variable Life Insurance Company (EVLICO) and a Board Member and Treasurer of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB).
He was also a mentor to many African American sisters and brothers. He volunteered at Westchester Community College teaching English as a second language. Up until his passing, he was a volunteer member of Grandpas United of the White Plains Youth Bureau. The multigenerational mentorship initiative pairs young people with volunteer granddads to foster brighter futures. In 2020, he was honored with a Community Service Award for his contributions. Of this experience he said “I love this organization, and working with the other grandpas is so heartwarming…Everyone involved works earnestly to get the best outcomes for the youth of White Plains, and that means so much to so many of the kids we mentor.”
In his youth, Wayne fell in love with trains. In fact, he lived most of his life within close proximity of The Harlem (railroad) Line. In 2018 he published a book by the name of The Harlem Line: Lessons Learned Along The Way in which he dedicated to his “wonderful, loving and talented granddaughters, Makala, Julia and Cayden with the hope that it will inspire each of them to excel in their endeavors, and maximize their efforts and talents in all that they do in their lifetime.”
Wayne was preceded by his father, mother and sister Jeannette (Sobers) Hinson. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife Yvonne of over 52 years and 5 months, children Baqiy Wali Asad, Julian (Katinia) Sobers and Stephanie (Brian) Shacochis, granddaughters Makala Sobers, Julia Sobers and Cayden Shacochis, nephew Donald L. (Patricia) Hinson Jr., nieces Lori Hinson and Lisa Hinson, many loving relatives and beloved friends and treasured associates.
He was always there to listen, give advice or support to so many family members, friends and the youth that he loved to mentor. Wayne inspired many and touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him.
The family is appreciative of the outpouring of love, messages, calls and visits from relatives and friends. Your words of comfort have been a welcome respite during this difficult period of bereavement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that Waynett Sobers, Jr. & family entrusted his care & the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Sobers family during their time of bereavement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Private cremation has already been held. But there will be a Memorial Service livestreamed, the basic information for which is posted here above & below, and the link to watch will be available/live on that day, Feb. 26th, & up to 6 months afterwards. Please still leave condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in his honor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As a lasting tribute, In Lieu of flowers the family kindly instead prefers a contribution may be made in his name/memory/honor to the White Plains Youth Bureau, 11 Amherst Place, White Plains, NY 10601 (may be done on your own or also through the donation tab/link here in website at the bottom of this page). As cremation has already occurred, NO flowers should be sent to the funeral home, though you may also choose to plant a tree in his name/memory/honor as another lasting tribute, or despite the family's contribution request, possibly send flowers to the family. The Family Thanks You!