John Joseph Payne

Born on September 13, 1952, in New London, CT, John was always a free spirit who had a gift for finding humor in everything. He was the beloved son of John and Gracie Payne, younger brother to his sisters Linda (NH) and Marjorie (CT), and an adored uncle to a niece and many nephews (NH and CT). He shared 56 years of his life and love with his devoted wife, Patty Payne. He was a cherished father to Matt (Sarah) and Lizzie (Dan) and a very proud grandpa to his granddaughters, Zoey and Abby and his grandson, Radley.

John was known for his strong work ethic in heavy construction, unique sense of humor, and playing in the pocket. Since starting to drum at the age of 8, John has played in dozens of local bands and cherished the friendships he made along the way. His laugh and presence brought joy to everyone around him. In reflecting upon his life and all that he has survived, we were reminded of a quote from John, “In a dog-eat-dog world, it is better to be a cat”.

John’s generosity and kindness were some of his defining qualities. He had a passion for helping unsuspecting people in need, especially during the holidays, and would even save the tiniest of creatures before he would pour concrete.

In honor of his memory, his family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either the Halifax Humane Society or St. Jude Children’s Hospital in his name.

The funeral service to honor and celebrate the inspiring life of John will be held on Thursday, July 23rd 5pm until 8pm at Volusia Memorial, 548 N. Nova Rd., Ormond Beach.

John’s family is grateful for your kind words and love during this difficult time.