Barbara Payne Virden

Born in Crowville, LA, Mrs. Virden was the daughter of the late Sidney Lee Payne, Sr. and the late Roberta Hendricks Payne. She was a graduate of Central High School in Delhi, LA and Northeast Louisiana State College in Monroe, LA. She taught Physical Education and sponsored the Drill Team at Terrebonne High School in Houma, LA, where she met the love of her life.

In 1958, she married John S. Virden of Jackson, MS in Delhi, LA. In 1959 they were blessed with the birth of their first son, John Jr. and blessed again in 1961 and 1965 with the birth of their son, James and daughter, Jammie Lynn in Baton Rouge, LA.

Family life was always a special joy for Mrs. Virden. She reveled in the activities and accomplishments of J, Regina, James, Cindy, Jammie, and Todd, and granddaughter Felicia. She especially liked creating special memories for the whole family around birthdays and holidays, especially Christmas.

Mrs. Virden was blessed with a genuine caring spirit which extended to all she knew and with whom she had contact whether they be family, friends, or neighbors. She enjoyed traveling, reading, cooking, shopping for presents, but most importantly, her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents Sidney Lee and Roberta Payne, Sr., her husband John S. Virden, Sr., siblings Paul Payne, Charles Payne, Jerry Payne, Helen Mitchell, and Anita Faye Payne.

She is survived by her three children, John S. (Regina) Virden, Jr., of Marietta, GA; James Rodney (Cindy) Virden, of Medina, OH; and Jammie Lynn (Todd) Hassell of Willowbrook, IL; granddaughter, Felicia Virden, of Medina, OH, her siblings Sidney Lee (Joyce) Payne, Jr., Perry (Florice) Payne, Elaine (James) Merryman, Sisters-in-law Margaret Payne, Eva Payne, and Faye Payne and many devoted nieces and nephews.

Visitation is Wednesday, February 22nd, at 10 o'clock at Lakewood Funeral Home in Jackson, MS. The service will follow at 11 o'clock with interment at Lakewood Memorial Park.