Pastor Lester Payton

PAYTON, Pastor Lester - Age 82, departed this life to be with the Lord, Saturday, June 8, 2013. Family hour 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 15, 2013 at Jackson Memorial C.O.G.I.C., 3155 W. Carpenter Rd., with homegoing service commencing at 11 a.m. Bishop J. Drew Sheard, Sr., officiating, Bishop H.J. Williams, Host Pastor. Interment Flint Memorial Park Cemetery, G-9506 N. Dort Hwy. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Pastor Payton will lie in state in the Sanctuary of Solid Rock C.O.G.I.C., 3520 North St., Friday, June 14, 2013, and may be viewed from 1-8 p.m. with memorial celebration from 6-8 p.m. Pastor Lester Payton was born September 13, 1930 in Gadsen, Alabama, the son of Oscar Henry and Annie Laura Payton. Pastor Payton was the Founder and Pastor of the Solid Rock Church of God in Christ, 3520 North Street, Flint, MI. His past ministry included, Co-pastor with the late Supt. Pervis Givens of Prayer Garden C.O.G.I.C. Pastor Payton was united in Holy Matrimony with Delorese Walker July 2, 1983 in Saginaw, MI.He was employed at General Motors for 27 years and was a member of UAW Local 599, where he retired from Plant 81 May 1988. He was also a Chaplain at Thumb Correctional Facility. Pastor Payton loved fishing, hunting, farming, gardening and cooking. He was a man of all trades: plumbing, painting, brick layer and electrician. Pastor Payton loved the church, his family and people. He also had a special love for children and was very giving. Pastor Lester Payton leaves to cherish his memory: wife of 29 years, Delorese Walker Payton; 10 sons, Lester (Cristina) Payton Jr. of Sacramento, CA, Leonard Payton of Richmond, VA, Neal (Janet) Payton of Las Vegas, NV, Walter Payton of Stone Mountain, GA, Luther (Tammala) Payton of Lawrenceville, GA, Patrick Payton, Elijah Payton, both of Flint, Donald (Willie Mae) Bivens, Bryant Walker, all of Saginaw, MI and Eddie Walker of Flint; 6 daughters, Bettye Payton of Orlando, FL, Laura (Marzuq) Rahmaad of Davison, MI, Montrose (Arnett) Mitchell of Stone Mountain, GA, Lena Wise of Lansing, MI, Cindy (Andrew) Kidd of Cincinnati, OH and Trina Peeples of Saginaw, MI; 37 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sister, Jannie (Willie) Jackson of Williamson, NY; mother-in-law, Artelia Walker of Pine Bluff, AR; son-in-law, Lewis Hollins of Davison, MI; 5 sisters-in-law, Eloise Payton of Flint, Verlene Howard of Kansas City, MO, Annie Lee of Carson City, MI, Alice Glenn of Orangeburg, SC, Regina (Denise) Heard of Houston, TX; 4 brothers-in-law, Eddie (Shirley) Walker, Willie (Mary) Walker, all of Pine Bluff, AR, Bernard (Jill) Walker and Walter Walker, all of Flint. a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends including special friends, Eld. Brian D. Grundy, Calvin Mayberry, Eld. Samuel Hall, Sr., Deacon Vernon (Tonya) Butler, Harp Po, special God-sons, Noryar Tucker, Joe Collins, Lonnie Terry and Vernerd Porter and special granddaughter, Deon Gaddy. Pastor Payton was preceded in death by his daughter, Lucretia Ann Payton Hollins; parents, Oscar Henry and Annie Laura Payton; sister, Annie Ruth (Henry) Jackson; brothers, George (Lucy Mae) Slater, William Payton, Pastor Chester Payton, Eddie Lee, Aaron, Moses and Joseph Freeman. The family would like to express special thanks to Solid Rock Church of God In Christ Church family, Hurley Genesys Cancer Center, Genesys Health Park, caregiver, Pat, Nurse Mary, Dr. Snyder, Stacy, Paula, Flushing Medical Center staff, Dr. Adams and staff, Bishop H.J. Williams, Supt H. Ellison, Pastor Allen Davis. Special thanks to North Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Bishop J.D. Sheard and everyone who prayed for the Payton family.

Pastor Lester Payton

September 13, 1930 - June 8, 2013