Visitation will be held from 4:00pm until 7:00pm, Friday, November 17, 2023, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Funeral services are 11:00am, Saturday, November 18, 2023, at Trinity Baptist Church in Florence with burial to follow in the Wesleyanna Cemetery in Star. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to services.
Born on March 2nd in 1942 in Utica, Mrs. Payne was preceded in death by Husband Frank Summerlin, Husband Billy Payne, Brothers Robert Covington and Jimmy Covington, Sisters Joann Mathis, Charlene Covington and Linda Hankins.
She is survived by Daughters Nancy Floyd Smith (Randy), Nita Alford (Chuck), Sons Phillip Summerlin (Rhonda), Eric Summerlin, Erby Floyd, Brother Larry Callicutt, sisters Louise Floyd and Debra Poling. 6 Grandchildren and 16 great grand children and many nieces and nephews!
Mrs. Payne grew up in Utica sharing her experiences of a simple but happy time. She married Frank Summerlin in 1957 in Houston, Texas spending 41 years together. She returned to Mississippi in 1972 where she remained until her death. It was at Trinity Baptist Church where she worshipped and served the Children's Ministry, Sunbeams and GMA'S,Women's Missionary Auxiliary and lead special events for over 40 years. She assisted as a Girl Scout Leader and mentor. Her calling with children extended to being a preschool teacher with First Baptist Daycare of Florence 20 plus years, many of whom remain in the community raising their families. After the death of her husband in 2000 she retired to devote her self to her church ministry and family, including 6 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. She reconnected with an old friend Billy Payne and they were married in 2004. They remained together until his passing in 2017. Everyone who passed her way, was accepted, loved, sheltered and given hope, leaving her truest legacy to forever be respectfully known as Mamaw.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.baldwinleepearl.com for the Payne family.