Mr. Clyde Eugene Payne

Clyde Eugene Payne, with us for 92 good years, started his new life in our Father’s House on June 22, 2015. Mr. Payne was born September 18th, 1922 in the beautiful mountain community of Walnut, Madison County, NC. His early years were often reflected in the stories he shared of life on the family farm in Walnut. His 92 years were always reflected in his “good” disposition. The staff at the hospital, who only knew Mr. Payne for a couple of short weeks, commented that he is really a “good guy, a southern gentleman.”

He was good to his surviving family which includes his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Payne, to his daughters, Pamela Payne Bennett and Gayle Payne Thackston. He was good to his grandchildren, John Thackston, Branson Bennett, Grace Thackston, Cameron Bennett and his son-in-laws, Charlie Thackston and Herb Bennett. He is also survived by his brother, Harry Payne of Walnut, NC, and his sister, Virginia Walkowski of Pinconning, MI.

Mr. Payne is a World War II Veteran having served his country in the US Navy. He graduated from Blanton’s Business College in Asheville, NC, and served with the National Weather Bureau after graduation. He then moved to Charlotte, NC, where he lived for 43 years, raised his family and retired from federal government employment after 32 years of service. He was an active member of Oakhurst Baptist Church and Providence Road Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. After retirement, he relocated to Marietta, Georgia, to be closer to family and was a member of Mt. Bethel UMC. He enjoyed his walks with Dorothy, his Sunday School Class and his local NARFE chapter.

Mr. Payne is preceded in his passing by his parents, Bernie and Annie Payne of Walnut, NC, and his brothers, Frank Howell Payne of Allen Park, MI, and Aubrey Payne of Lincoln Park, MI.

Mr. Payne will be remembered as a good man from what Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest Generation”. He reflected the best qualities of those times through being good to his family, good to his church, good to his friends, good for his work and good to have known. Honesty, integrity and faithfulness all wrapped with hard work and thriftiness focused on a true sense of self reliance. “You can take the man out of the mountains, but you can’t take the mountain out of the man.”

The Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at H.M. Patterson & Son, Canton Hill Chapel at 1157 Old Canton Rd., Marietta, GA 30068. Officiating the service will be Rev. Glenn Ray and Rev. Wil Parker. The family will receive visitors in advance of the service at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at H.M. Patterson & Son. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Oakhurst Baptist Church, 5037 Monroe Rd., Charlotte, NC, 28205 or Mt. Bethel UMC, 4385 Lower Roswell, Marietta, GA, 30068.