David Leroy Payne Sr.

It is said that there are words in the English vocabulary that are more solemn than others. They are life, death and eternity. To live is more serious than to die. The object of Christ’s death is life. A Christian’s death gives a more abundant life. Death is a joyful messenger of peace whose kind hand opens to the weary pilgrim the gate of immortality. On August 13th, 1944, a baby boy was born to Doretha and Lindsey Payne in Galveston, Texas.  They named him David. He met and married the love of his life, Anna R (“fondly called Ann”) Mason Payne on April 10th, 1965.  To this union was born two sons and two daughters. The family has resided in Dickinson, TX for 51 years. David attended schools in Galveston and LaMarque. He graduated from College of Mainland with an Associate of Arts in Education. He also took classes at University of Clear Lake – Houston. He served in the United States Navy as a Medic after attending Corpsman school. After his service in the military, he worked at Mainland Center as an Operating Room technician, Alvin Hospital as a Maintenance Supervisor, and at Union Carbide as an Operations Supervisor. David was very active in the church holding several positions. He was an officer of the Community Action Council of Galveston County. David loved to take photos, repair computers, create documents and make jokes with his family. He could often be seen making silly faces and having long talks about the many subjects in which he was well versed. On Monday, August 29th, 2016, God told his servant, David L. Payne, Sr, “Well Done Thy Good and Faithful Servant, enter into thy Master’s joy.” David was preceded in death by his parents Doretha and Lyndsey Payne Jr., Mama Sue and Mr. Thomas, Celestine and Mel D Cobbs Sr. His mother and father in law Haywood and Emma Mason. Sister Doretha Payne. Brothers Walter Visor, Andre Visor and Dexter Cobbs. He leaves to walk in this path of life, four children, David L Payne Jr. (Evesta), Alisa Payne Johnson, Jamahl Payne, and Latonia Payne all of Dickinson, Texas. Brothers – Lindsey Payne, Mel D Cobbs, Zebedee Cobbs, and Thaddeus Cobbs and Sisters – Patricia Payne, Linda Payne, Geraldine Payne, Jermaine Payne, Venolia Hackley, Rosena Cobbs, Celestine Cobbs.  Brother-in-laws – Haywood Mason (Linda), Murphy Mason (Gerrie), Eugene Mason, and James Mason.  Sister-in-laws – Doris Cobbs, Bernadette Moore (Chester), Margie Davis, Winnie Allen (Emery), Helen Mason, and Renita Mason. Seven loving grandchildren – Destiny (Matt) Capps, Jaela, Jaime (Jeremy) Weida, Kai, Lyndsey, Logan, and Kenton. Three great grandchildren – Paxtyn, Grayson, and Emmett. He also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins to cherish his memory.