By Staff
Ms. Mary Wright Taylor Payne, age 83, a resident of 404 Willows Ct., Washington, died Monday, November 8, 2010.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, November 11, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church and will be conducted by Rev. Darryl Evans and Rev. Lee Kinney. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery. J.M. “Bear” Hodges, III, Claude G. Hodges, Dr. Charles H. Manning, Steve Lee, Bill Oden, Al Hodge and David McLawhorn will serve as pallbearers.
Ms. Payne was born in Enfield, NC, on December 18, 1926 to the late Thomas Sparrow Payne and Mary Wright Taylor Payne. She was baptized in 1929 by Dr. W.D. McInnis at the First Presbyterian Church in Washington, NC. She was a 1943 graduate of Washington High School, attended Flora Macdonald College from 1945 to 1947 and then East Carolina Teacher’s College from 1947 until her graduation in 1949. She taught in Kinston, NC, in 1949 and then in Chattanooga, TN, and was listed in the Outstanding Elementary Teachers of America. Ms. Payne was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday school, served as Elder and was recognized as an honorary life member in 1997. Other memberships include Delta Kappa Gamma, Alpha Chapter, life member of the P.T.A., National Society of Colonial Dames of America, 1972 and the Stratford Book Club.
Survivors include two nephews, Thomas Sparrow Payne, III of Washington, Charles Greene Payne and wife Kathryn of Winterville and one niece, Evelyn Payne Snow of Washington. She was preceded in death by her brother, Thomas Sparrow Payne, Jr.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 211 W. Second St., Washington, NC 27889 or to the charity of one’s choice.
You may address condolences to the Payne family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.
Paul Funeral Home of Washington is honored to serve the Payne family.
Paid Obituary