Gerald Wayne Welch, former mayor of Union, Mississippi, passed away on March 25, 2025, at the age of 78. Welch served his hometown in public office for 36 years, including 12 years as mayor, and was remembered this week by those who worked closely with him.
Mississippi House Representative Randy Rushing recalled working alongside Welch when both served as mayors in their respective towns. “Wayne was a mayor at the same time I was mayor of Decatur,” Rushing said. “Even after I became representative, he was mayor, and we worked really close together. He was a good friend and a good mayor.”
Rushing said Welch always prioritized the people of Union and was committed to making improvements. “We had some good projects together that we accomplished while he was mayor, and he’ll truly be missed as a staple of that community,” he added.
Union Alderman Billy McCune also served with Welch on the Board of Aldermen. He remembered Welch as someone who led with determination. “Wayne was best for Union. He was kind of bullheaded — when he set his mind on doing something, he was gonna try his best to do it the way he said,” McCune said. “He looked at the facts and made decisions from that.”
McCune acknowledged that although they didn’t always agree, Welch always put the town first. “He’s gonna be missed. Union will miss him as well. He was a stand-up man.”
Alderman Robert Blount shared both professional and personal memories of Welch, calling him a dependable leader and a close friend. “Wayne really put the town first. Every decision he made, you could just depend on,” Blount said. “Everybody really looked up to Wayne. He was a nice guy.”
Blount also reflected on their friendship beyond town business. “We both played golf together. Our kids grew up together. We went on vacations together. We had a good family relationship over the years.”
Though Welch was not a full-time mayor, he stayed actively involved in the community. He was frequently seen driving through neighborhoods to stay informed and connected. “That’s one thing people really respected Wayne for,” Blount said.
In addition to his service in city government, Welch owned and operated Welch Forest Products with his son. He was known to be successful in the timber buying and selling business.
Welch’s commitment to Union and the people in it left a lasting impression on his colleagues and neighbors. As McCune put it simply: “I enjoyed working with Wayne.”
