Mary Evelyn Gafford Payne, age 91, died March 18, 2010. She was a lifelong resident of Sandy Ridge.
She is preceded in death by her husband, John Robert Payne Sr.; her son, Dr. John Robert Payne Jr.; son-in-law, Carnathan Bailey Carlton Jr.; a sister, Florence Claire Stewart, and a brother, Roy Haynes (Monk) Gafford.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Evelyn Payne Carlton of Sandy Ridge, daughter-in-law, Dianne Shrader Payne of Miami, Fla.; sister, Helen Gafford Aughtman of Brewton and brother, Frederick Fonville Gafford of Hattiesburg, MS.
Other survivors include five grandchildren, Carnathan Bailey Carlton III (Dana); John Gray Carlton (Melissa); Stephanie Carlton Sampley (James Hayden); Jason Robert Payne and Trevor Shrader Payne; six great grandchildren, Mary Claire Carlton; Sara Elizabeth Carlton, Hannah Lynn Tilley, Gregory Stephen Tilley, William Gray Carlton, and John Hayden Sampley and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Payne retired in 1984 after 29 years of loyal service with the State of Alabama Department of Industrial Relations. She was a devoted member of the Sandy Ridge United Methodist Church where she was organist for 55 years.
Funeral services will be conducted at Sandy Ridge United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 2 pm with visitation one hour prior. Burial will follow at Payne Cemetery in Sandy Ridge. Rev. William Vance Payne, Jr., Rev. Dennis Carlson and Rev. Gayle Woodard will officiate. Dunklin & Daniels Funeral Home directing.
Pallbearers will be C.B. Carlton III, John Gray Carlton, James Hayden Sampley, Jason Robert Payne, Thomas Everette Stewart, Claude Franklin Peacock, Lorenzo Dowe Aughtman, and Irby Leon Golson Sr. Honorary pallbearers will be Stanley Mark Payne, Trevor Shrader Payne, Samuel Golson Sr., Thomas Carl Golson, James Thomas Smith, and Steven Casey Smith. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Sandy Ridge United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 7852 US Highway 31, Letohatchee, AL 36047. Online condolences may be made at www.dunklinanddaniels.com.