Mary H. Payne

Mrs. Mary H. Payne, 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., Flint, Mich., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m., Pastor F.O. Hockenhull officiating. Family and friends will assemble at the church 10:30 a.m. Monday. Mrs. Payne now lies in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., Flint, Mich., and may be viewed from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today. Mrs. Mary H. Payne was born April 5, 1923, in Parkdale, Ark., to the late Hosea Davis and Emma (Smith) Davis. She married the late Edward H. Payne on Feb. 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, Mich. Mrs. Payne was a long-time 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. Mrs. Mary F. Payne leaves to cherish her memories, three sons, Cecil Payne of Ypsilanti, Mich., Lloyd Witt of Flint, Lewis (Carolyn) Witt of Davison, Mich.; seven grandchildren, Christina Dye (Johnny), Llewis Witt, Lauren Teemer (Eric), Liana Witt, James Witt, Joshua Witt, and Jasmyn Witt; eight great-grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren; brother, Tommy Davis of Pine Bluff, Ark.; daughter-in-law, Minerva Witt of Flint; brother-in-law, John Fentry of Little Rock, Ark.; god-daughter, Alberta Williams; 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, 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. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her memory to the National Kidney Foundation, the American Cancer Society or the American Hospice Foundation.