Helena Patricia Payne

Helena Patricia “Pat” Payne was born on December 27, 1939 and passed away peacefully at her home on May 24, 2025. She was born in Mobile, Alabama and graduated from Murphy High School. She met her sweetheart, David “Dave” F. Payne, Sr., in Mobile while he was stationed at Barin Field in Balwin County, Alabama. They were married for 66 years. She helped raise their three children, sometimes alone, while her husband was on deployment with the U.S. Navy. She helped move the family to California, Washington, Hawaii, and Florida, finally returning to Mobile after his retirement. She enjoyed reading, cooking and spending time with family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Randle Thomas Gilpin, Jr. and Lillian Binet Gilpin; and her brother, Randle Thomas “Tommy” Gilpin, III. She is survived by her husband, David “Dave” Payne; her three children David (Amanda) Payne, Jr., Randle “Randy” (Mary Ann) Payne and Karen (Daryl) Taylor; along with five (5) grandchildren, Thomas (Kinsey) Payne, Cameron (Jessie) Payne, Daniel (Stephanie) Payne, Kathleen (Eric) Hand and Kara (Abby) Kryger; and two great-grandchildren, Lucas Payne and Oliver Payne. She will be laid to rest on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 after a small ceremony at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort, Alabama.