Sara Payne

Mrs. Sara Louise Hall Payne, age 82, of 250 North Avery Road, Rome, wife of Sanford Payne, died unexpectedly Saturday. She was born in Emanuel County, GA, Feb. 18, 1924, a daughter of the late Bennett Wilburn Hall and Mattie Mae Waller Hall and lived most of her life in Floyd County, following graduation from Summertown High School. She also graduated from Berry College with a B.S. in Business. Mrs. Payne was an active member of the Beech Creek United Methodist Church, former member of the Women's Sunday School Class at Wesley Southern Methodist Church, former teacher of the Young Couples' Sunday School Class at Beech Creek, taught in the Floyd County School System, and was librarian at Alto Park School for seventeen years. In addition, she served as President of the Floyd County Retired Teachers Association, President of Alpha Delta Kappa sorority, member of Kappa Kappa Iota sorority, Daughters of Berry and Gideons Auxiliary. Sara loved children, not only her own, but an extended family, including those whom she taught. She also loved flowers and hummingbirds. She was preceded in death by her brothers, J. Battle Hall and Leon C. Hall and sister, Mary HallStephens. Surviving is her husband, retired educator J. Sanford Payne, to whom she was married December 5, 1948; son and daughter-in-law, James S. Payne, Jr. and Carol C. Payne, Rome; daughter and son-in-law, Carol Payne Carver and Charles Carver, Cartersville; grandchildren, Chad Carver, Sarah Margaret Payne, Kathryn Payne Evans, Cara Carver, Isaac Payne, David Carver and Jonathan Carver; great-grandchild, Kinleigh Carver; sister Lucille Hall Patrick, Smyrna, GA; sister-in-law, Bertha Payne Boyd, Rome; brother, Bennett C. Hall, Swainsboro, GA. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday in the Beech Creek United Methodist Church, with Rev. Paula Edna, Dr. Robert Ozment, and Rev. Michael Holt officiating. Interment will be in the Beech Creek cemetery. Her body will lie in state at the church from 10 to 11 am Tuesday. Music will include selections by Gesta Payne Riggs and Dr. Daniela Opravilova. The family will receive friends at Jennings Oaknoll Chapel from 6 to 8 pm Monday, and at other hours may be contacted at the residence. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Gideons of Rome West, P.O. Box 3041, Rome, GA 30164-3041. Pallbearers are asked to meet at Beech Creek United Methodist Church at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Active pallbearers will be Doug Hall, Benny Hall, Alman Garrett, David Carver, Jonathan Carver, Richard Riggs, Roy Powell and Brock Evans. Honorary pallbearers include James David Hardin, Paul Boyd, Dennis Little, Joe Didrick, Wayne Comer, Sam Allen, Pete Millican, and David Bohannon. Please join Mrs. Payne's family in viewing a DVD of her life, expressing condolences and posting tributes by visiting www.jenningsfuneralhome.com The Oaknoll Chapel of Jennings Funeral Home, Parnick Jennings, Sr. directing, has charge of the arrangements.