Robert Odell Payne

Born in McLeansville, NC to Blanche Pritchett Payne and Robert S. Payne, Odell was raised on a tobacco farm in Guilford County, NC, with a deep sense of family, faith, education, and service. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Elon College and a Master of Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before entering public life, he spent more than a decade as a teacher, a role that reflected his belief in the importance of learning, discipline, and opportunity.

Odell began his political career at the age of 34. He served three terms as a Republican in the North Carolina General Assembly from 1969 to 1974, where he helped sponsor and pass House Bill 260, which became Session Law 1971-1000, that established the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf located in Greensboro, NC. He was also involved in numerous group-sponsored bills focused heavily on K-12 public education funding, local government administrative tweaks, and agricultural resource protections. He later ran for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in 1976 and continued his public service as a member of the North Carolina Mental Health Study Commission (1972-1977), the North Carolina Health Coordinating Council, and the Guilford County Board of Commissioners (1980-1985). Throughout his career, he was known for his seriousness of purpose, his commitment to Guilford County, his willingness to serve his community, and his dedication to his family and friends.

In addition to public service, Odell was active in community organizations, including Mount Pleasant Methodist Church, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, the McLeansville Lions Club, and the Greensboro Elks Club. His family fondly recalls Odell being awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

Odell’s family had deep roots in Guilford County. He was the younger brother of Jean Payne Rabie, whose papers, along with materials from Odell’s political campaigns and family history, are preserved in the Greensboro History Museum Archives.

Above all, Odell will be remembered by those who loved him. He was a pillar in his community. Always trying to help others was his purpose and will forever remain the center of his legacy. Every year he planted a garden, the yielding of which he distributed generously to friends and family in his community. He was always up for a spirited debate; he genuinely loved people and was driven to do what was right. Despite personal tragedies and disappointments, he continued to maintain a positive outlook and focus. His life reflected a commitment to family, education, public service, and the community that shaped him.

The family would like to extend our gratitude to Carolyn Smith for her 50 years of loyalty, dedicated service to Odell as his friend, confidant and employee

He is survived by his sister, Jean Payne Rabie, (nephews, Ziad D. Rabie and wife, Jennifer, Diab J. Rabie Jr. and wife (Sharon); his brother, Melvin S. Payne, nephew, Kenneth Payne (wife, Debbie), great-niece Kathryn, niece, Kelly Medley (husband, Dean), great- nephew, John Medley, (wife, Megan and their daughters, Amelia and Salem Medley); great-niece, Anna Medley Miller, (husband, Tyler and their daughter, Leah Miller); cousins, Donnie Payne (Brenda), Thomas E. Payne (Toni), Susan Payne Adams (Chip), James W. Payne (Dale), Jeff L. Payne (Susan), and close friend, Marshall White. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert S. Payne, mother, Blanch Payne, son, Chad Odell Payne, beloved cousin, Thomas Wade Payne (wife, Lucille Payne and their son, Mike Payne), and niece, Patricia Ann Payne, sister-in-law, Margaret “Peggy” Payne, and close friend, Gene Johnston.

A graveside service will be held at 1pm on Thursday, June 4th at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church. There will be refreshments afterwards in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church 5120 Burlington Rd, Greensboro, NC 27405.

Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com

Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home has the honor of assisting the Payne family.