Gene Payne

Gene Payne, 82, of Burlington passed away at AuthoraCare Hospice Home on Thursday, April 28, 2022 following three months of failing health.

A native of Alcoa, TN, he was the husband of 24 years to Becky Payne, who survives and the late Brenda Combs Payne of 35 years, and the son of Yale Eugene Payne, Sr. and Jewell Toomey Payne, both deceased.

Mr. Payne was a former member of the National Guard and former cost engineer for IBM. He was an avid Duke fan and golfer.  He was a member of Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, Durham, NC and attended the First United Methodist Church of Graham. He was a member of the Gospel Music Association and a founding member of the Dixie Melody Boys. He sang in many gospel groups with the group most dearest to his heart being the Silver Chords where he sang with his two nieces. He stated many times that if we could have led just one person to Christ, it would have been worth it all. Spreading the gospel on wings of a song was his motto.

In addition to his wife of their home, survivors include two daughters, Gena Payne Balltzglier and husband Buck of Rougemont and Ginger Payne Towner of Lexington; step-sons, Rodney Shotwell and wife Kimberly of Reidsville and David Shotwell of High Point; grandchildren, Amanda Gupton, Courtney Brown (deceased), Conley Balltzglier and wife Lauren, Austin Towner, Brendan Towner, Evan Shotwell, Joshua Shotwell, Dalton Shotwell, Holden Shotwell, and Karver Shotwell; step-grandson, Hunter Brown; great-grandchild, Norah Balltzglier; brother, Gerald Grant Payne and wife Barbara; and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by two sisters, June Payne Frederick and Greta Payne Arline.

The family will receive friends at the Rich & Thompson Funeral Home in Graham on Sunday, May 1, 2022 from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. Other times, they will be at the home.

A graveside service will be conducted at Rose of Sharon Baptist Church Cemetery, Durham, NC on Monday, May 2, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. by Dr. Norman Gordon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to AuthoraCare Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or to a charity of one’s choice.

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