Louise V. Payne

Mrs. Louise Virginia Payne, born to the late Gilbert and Viola Henson on February 26, 1924, in Adelina Calvert County, Maryland, departed her earthly life on January 9, 2022, to go home and be with our Lord and Savior. God blessed her with ninety-seven beautiful years. Mrs. Payne was the youngest of four children: Norman, Murray, and John Jimmy, all of which have preceded her death. She received her early education in Calvert County Public School and later moved to Baltimore when she was 12 to live with her father. At age 19, she met and married Mr. Cornelius Payne (affectionately known as CV) on Christmas Day in 1943. Together, they built a beautiful life. From their union, three children were born, Marsha (who has preceded her in death), Valerie, and Karen. They showed their family the importance of commitment, hard work, faith, and unconditional love. Years later, her first grandson, Troy (who has preceded her in death) was born. He was a blessing and a joy to her. God blessed their union for forty-nine glorious years, until the passing of Mr. Payne in 1992. She was a loving and devoted wife who cared for her husband until God called him home. Mrs. Payne was a cafeteria worker in Baltimore City Public Schools for over thirty years. Her longest tenure was at Lemmel Middle School. She enjoyed cooking and serving the students their lunch. It was a labor of love for Mrs. Payne because she loved children no matter the age, and the children respected and appreciated her in return. Mrs. Payne desired to grow her family spiritually. Thus, the family became members of New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore, and were baptized into the faith in the early 1950s under the pastoral leadership of Dr. Timothy Boddie and later Dr. Harold A. Carter, Sr. She was a tireless servant of her church and community. She was a faithful tither and a steward of the word. For the love of children, she joined the church’s nursery ministry, and this is where she met her best friend, Mrs. Lillious Bryant. Together, they cared for and taught hundreds of children for over fifty years. New Shiloh saw fit to honor their years of service by dedicating the cry room to them, naming it the “Payne and Bryant Cry Room.” Years later, she joined the Senior Circle and enjoyed traveling with the group up to Rhode Island every summer to visit Pastor Vincent Thompson’s church. In 2010, she had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to South Africa and experience all the rich culture and history. Mrs. Payne was a big advocate of education, family, and having a relationship with the Lord. She and her husband made sure their children had the best opportunities to excel in life and live out their dreams, whether it was sending them to college, teaching them to be self-sufficient, or being financially sound. She stressed higher education to her grandchildren as well as her great-grandchildren. She always said, “the world can take away everything but your education.” She always told them to go to school, get a good education, and a good job so they could take care of themselves. Family gatherings and social events were special to Mrs. Payne, she enjoyed attending the Mason Hall cabarets with her husband. She loved to cook big spreads for her family for the holidays. She truly cherished going to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren sporting events and being there for their milestone occasions. Mrs. Payne was a supportive and proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Mrs. Payne was simply a beautiful woman inside and out, admirable by all who knew her. She was a woman of great strength, immeasurable humility, kindness, forgiveness, generosity, and most of all love. She will be missed but, we can rejoice in the fact that she lived a long, wonderful, fulfilling, and purposeful life with God’s grace and mercy covering her. Mrs. Payne leaves to cherish her legacy and memory: her daughters, Valerie Payne-Murphy and Karen V. Payne. Her grandsons Gerard Rowell (Tiesha), Brian Hines, and Jason Hines. Her only granddaughter Vickie Gross. Her greatgrandsons Myron Austin Jr., Javon Tate, and Camerin Gross. Her one surviving sister-in-law Juanita Moss of Lynchburg, VA. Her godson Kevin Gantt. Two near and dear nieces, Viola Christian, and Shirley Coward. Two near and dear nephews Melvin Henson and John Leroy Henson. A great host of loving nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. In addition to her Spruce Drive family and New Shiloh family

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Louise V. Payne

February 26, 1924 - January 9, 2022