Robert Ray Payne

Robert Ray Payne, age 70 passed away peacefully in his favorite recliner at home on Monday, February 12th at 11:50 a.m., while surrounded by his family after a five month battle with pancreatic cancer.  Robert was born to Fred Lewis and Frances Morris Payne on December 4, 1953 in Gastonia, NC.  He lived in Alexis, NC most of his life and was well loved by his friends and family.  His older brother, Mike Lewis Payne, was killed by a drunk driver on December 26, 1959 while delivering the Grit Newspaper on Alexis High Shoals Rd. in Alexis, NC.  He was struck from behind while riding his bicycle and passed away at the hospital later that afternoon.  Robert was never the same.  Robert was a member of the last graduating class of Stanley High School in 1972.  After getting a ride home from Stanley High School from a pretty girl named Teresa Jean Anderson, he fell in love at first sight.  They began dating and were married on  February 12, 1971.  A few months later, they welcomed their daughter Michelle Leigh Payne (Hersey) into this world.  Robert and Teresa would then welcome David Ray Payne on January 13, 1974 and finally welcomed Amanda Kay Payne (Beaty) on April 15, 1977 to complete their family.  Robert and Teresa raised their family in a small four room house on Rhyne Road and poured love into the lives of their children and so many of their friends while doing so.  Their oldest daughter Michelle went to Mars Hill College and graduated with a degree in teaching.  She gave a little over 30 years to Gaston County Schools and retired this past October to spend time taking care of him.  Their son David followed in his fathers footsteps and has worked doing grading and construction all of his life.  Their daughter Amanda graduated from King's College with a degree in Accounting.  She worked many years for NAPA and now works for the Gaston County Finance Department doing accounting.  For two teenagers who did the best they could, their children were their biggest source of pride.  In September 2013, Robert's wife Teresa was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme; a very aggressive type of brain cancer.  For six months, he was by her side and took such great care of his sweetheart.  He has grieved her absence since the day she entered heaven, but we are confident they enjoyed their 53rd wedding anniversary when he arrived in heaven to give his sweetheart some hugs and sugar!  Robert spent most of his life working alongside his father while doing grading, septic tank installation, and opening Payne Fuel and Grading which was located 202 N. Main St. in Stanley, NC.  These two men were the absolute best at what they did.  If you needed recommendations to get jobs done, and you knew to ask people, you'd get their names first.  They offered a fair price and always had satisfied customers because of their work ethic, expertise and skill.  Robert was a quiet man who was always working in the background to make sure his family was taken care of.  He was often a man of few words, but the words he shared were powerful and profound.  He was passionate about working on old cars, old tractors, heavy equipment and anything else that needed fixing.  He loved his wife's cooking, spending time with his family, making and working a garden, hanging out in his shop, helping at the dirt track, and spending time in the woods while talking to Jesus on the family farm.  After a diagnosis in 2010 with Gullian Barre Syndrome, he was forced to learn how to walk and use his limbs again.  He was a true warrior and quickly found his new normal while in severe pain.  In 2015 and again in 2016, he suffered from multiple strokes that left him confined to a wheelchair.  This did not stop him from working and doing things he loved .  It also did not stop him from driving his little red Mazda truck around town to grab a part or get some fuel.  Over the past two years, Robert completely rebuilt four old tractors.  He also helped people fix their lawnmowers, their tractors and offered advice on many other projects.  If you needed something fixed, he was known by so many friends and locals to be the man with the answers.  Robert was influential in the lives of many people who may have been strangers at first, but always walked away feeling like his family.  He offered hardcore advice and criticism, but he did it in such a way that it left each person changed for the better.  We always wanted to make him proud and he was a huge encouraging man to so many.  You never had to wonder where you stood with him because he made sure to let you know.  Robert was preceded in death by his father, Fred Lewis Payne, his mother Frances Morris Payne, his brother, Mike Lewis Payne, and his wife Teresa Anderson Payne.  
Robert was the grandson of the late Robert Lee Payne, Jr. and Eva Rhyne Payne.  His maternal grandparents were the late Ernest Ray Morris and Myrtle Bumgarner Morris.  His is survived by his # 1 daughter Michelle Leigh Payne Hersey and husband Ronnie, his son David Ray Payne and wife Kathy, his baby girl Amanda Kay Payne Beaty and husband Chad, and his beloved "best boy" Joonie Payne (his Boston Terrier).  He loved his three grandsons so much: Nickalas Ray Payne, 26, Robert Lewis Hersey (Robbie) 18, and Sawyer Lee Beaty, 12.  These three young men have huge shoes to fill and a family farm to live on while remembering their beloved Papa.  He was extremely proud of all three of his grandsons.  Other family members include his brother-in-law (who was more like a son) , Billy Keith Anderson and wife Rhonda and their children Cameron and wife Hannah Anderson as well as Carleigh and Logan Odom all of Robbinsville, NC a sister in law Carol Beasley also of Robbinsville, NC and numerous cousins; his uncle and aunt Bob and Jo Ann Payne of Alexis and his aunt Martha Payne Homesley of Mount Holly will also miss him.  He also had several people who were very special to him and were like his brothers, sons, and family.  Wayne and Jan Beaty, Wayne Clippard, Fermon Faulkner, Rick Scott, Jason Womack, Israel Nesbit, Mike McPherson, Doug Miller, Jose and Miguel Ramirez (and Coco).  

He was a member of Alexis Baptist Church, Alexis, NC.  The family would like to thank all of our friends and family for all of their support during this time.  We hope you will always remember how much he loved all of you and that you will smile or laugh each time you remember him.  

Memorials can be sent to Gaston Hospice.  Our family would like to offer our love and gratitude to Paula Robb and the rest of the staff at Gaston Hospice who took such good care of our Daddy.  May we all live the kind of life Robert Payne lived- one that when our time is over others are left stunned and saddened by our absence but joyful and blessed that our lives have made theirs so much better. 

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday February 15, 2024 at Woodlawn Funeral Home in Mount Holly.  A service to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday February 17, 2024 at Alexis Baptist Church, Alexis, NC.

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