Mary Payne

PAYNE, Mrs. Mary H. - Age 87, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, July 12, 2010 at Heartland Hospice. Family hour 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 19, 2010 at First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, 1226 Beach St., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m., Pastor F.O. Hockenhull officiating. Family and friends will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Monday. Mrs. Payne will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday, with family present from 4p.m-6p.m. Mrs. Mary H. Payne was born April 5, 1923 in Parkdale, Arkansas to the late Hosea Davis and Emma (Smith) Davis. She married the late Edward H. Payne on February 1, 1943. Mrs. Payne was a loving wife, caring mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, public sector employee and community activist. In Arkansas, she worked at Arkansas Children’s and Arkansas Baptist Hospitals. She was a former member of the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist church in Little Rock. Mrs. Payne graduated from Dunbar High and Dunbar Junior College in Little Rock. In 1955, seeking a better life; she and her family moved from Little Rock to Flint, Michigan. In Flint, she co-owned Payne Construction Company. She was also employed by the Flint Community Schools as a Teachers’ Assistant, Michigan Employment Security Commission as a counselor and in a 16 year career at Hurley Medical Center, was in the first class of surgical technicians trained there and later was a supervisor of the Central Supply Department. Mrs. Payne was a longtime member of First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, in Flint, under the leadership of the Rev. F. O. Hockenhull, where she served in many roles in its mission and as a teacher. She was deeply involved in Flint community as a longtime American Red Cross volunteer and a mentor in Big Brother-Big Sisters. Mrs. Payne was an officer in Victorious Christian Women in Flint and at 75 years old, was one of eight facilitators in the publication of the University of Michigan’s Flint Photovoice photo essay where Flint residents photographed their views of the city. She enjoyed traveling and visited many of the states in the United States. She also traveled internationally including Liberia, Africa, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Montreal, Quebec and Canada. Mrs. Mary H. Payne leaves to cherish her memories: three sons, Cecil Payne of Ypsilanti, MI, Lloyd Witt of Flint, Lewis (Carolyn) Witt of Davison, MI; Seven grandchildren, Christina Dye, Llewis Witt, Lauren Witt, Liana Witt, James Witt, Joshua Witt, and Jasmyn Witt; 13 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; brother, Tommy Davis of Pine Bluff, AR; daughter-in-law, Minerva Witt of Flint; brother-in-law, John Fentry of Little Rock, AR; god-daughter, Alberta Williams; “Little Sister”- Sharon Thompson and her good friends, Jettie Chick, Craig Snyder and Tina Thomas; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and the First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church Family. Mrs. Payne was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Edward H. Payne; son, Kermit Payne; parents; brothers, Augustus and Lewis; and sisters: Trudy Carter and Beatrice Hawkins Fentry; and daughter-in-law Celia Catanzaro. The family wishes to thank the staffs of the DaVita Dialysis Center, Kith Haven Rehabilitation Center and Heartland Hospice for providing her care.

Mary Payne

April 5, 1923 - July 12, 2010