Wayne Oliver Burkes (December 6, 1929 – May 5, 2020) was an American politician, Baptist minister, and military officer.

[3] He graduated from Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Science in 1955, Master of Education in 1974, and an honorary Legum Doctor degree.

[2][3] He worked as an underwriter for Allstate Insurance before becoming an ordained pastor in Bolton, Mississippi in 1966, a position he would hold until 1989.

[4][5] He was nominated by President Bill Clinton for a seat on the Surface Transportation Board (STB), and served from 1999 to 2002.

[6] Burkes ran for Mississippi State Treasurer in 2003, but lost to future Governor Tate Reeves in the Republican primary.