**THIS IS A COURTESY OBIT FOR THE PAYNE FAMILY**


Mr. Russell Ray Payne, Sr. age 89, Jonesborough, passed away Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at the Life Care Center of Gray. Mr. Payne was born July 10, 1921 in Jonesborough, TN. He was a son of the late Stacy C. & Mary Alice Owens Payne. In addition to his parents, Mr. Payne was also preceded in death by his first wife, Mabel Marie Kyker Payne, second wife, Louise Chase Payne, five brothers and five sisters.

He was a member of Sulphur Springs Baptist Church. Mr. Payne was a United States Army Veteran and a member of Jonesborough VFW. He was a retired Butcher for Payne Sausage Company.

Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Connie & David Deanhardt, Jonesborough, Janice & Jimmy Dillow, Fall Branch and Sandra Drake, Azusa, CA; three sons and daughters-in-law, Russell R. Jr. & Debbie Payne, Hillsville, VA, Danny Payne, Louisville, KY and Gary & Penny Ford, Rockford, IL; grandchildren, Amy Long, Galax, VA, Amanda Lester, Hillsville, Amber Dalton, Woodlawn, VA, Sgt. Nick Teague, Fort Hood, TX; Robin Nelms, Kingsport, Shannon Dillow, Fall Branch, Misty Waldrop, Telford and Jeremy Deanhardt, Gray, Melissa, Michelle, David and Mark Ford, Rockford, IL and Jackie & Donnie Hogan, Azusa, CA; one sister, Verna Barr, Johnson City; seventeen great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, several nephews, nieces and a host of friends.

The family would like to extend special thanks to members of Sulphur Springs Baptist Church and staff of Life Care Center of Gray for their wonderful loving care.

Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 pm Saturday, July 2, 2011 at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home with Pastor John Reed officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:00-2:00 pm Saturday prior to the service. Interment will follow at Sulphur Springs Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Guy Barron, Rick Davenport, Forest Walker, Bruce Bacon, Willie Hilbert, Charles Long and David Deanhardt. Honorary pallbearers will be Sean Lester, Bobby Barr, Sgt. Nick Teague, Jeremy Deanhardt and Charles Cline.

Memorial donations may be made to Sulphur Springs Baptist Church 1567 Gray Station Sulphur Springs Rd. Jonesborough, TN 37659. Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home in Tennessee is in charge of arrangements.