Jessie Hutchinson Payne, 87

While we, each one of us in our own spaces, prayed for a miracle, and came from short and far distances to visit Jessie at her bedside and watched her tenderly but helplessly—her Creator granted a miracle. God ended her long suffering and summoned the angels, to light her way and to guide her to a new and everlasting life.

Jessie Mae Payne, 87, of Thurman, departed this life on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at Holzer Senior Care Center. Jessie was born on October 21, 1929 to the late Henry and Nancy Hutchinson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Deacon Adam H. Payne, Jr. (better known to us as Mike); 4 brothers: Samuel Hutchinson, Harry Hutchinson, George Lincoln Hutchinson and Malachi Hutchinson; and 2 sisters: Mrs. Oscar (Ruth) Hunt and Mrs. Howard (Naomi) Bivens. She is survived by her two daughters, Sharon (Roy) Winston of Cincinnati and Carolyn (Bill) Casey of Gallipolis; 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. William (Nancy) Curtis of Maryland; a special niece, Janice Patterson and three very dear cousins, Denver Keels, John Howard and Martha Cosby.

Jessie attended Cadmus High School and after raising her daughters, she attended the University of Rio Grande to study law.

Jessie was a faithful member of Corinth Missionary Baptist Church where she attended regularly. She always expressed a firm belief in the Lord.

Jessie was a Sunday School teacher during the 1950s and 60s and was currently the Sunday School Superintendent at Corinth Church. She was the Girl’s Guild leader for Corinth when her daughters were teenagers. She was also the current Vice-President of the Gallia Sub-District Sunday School and BTU Institute.

Jessie had always been the overseer of the church kitchen until she passed that job on to one of the other sisters of the church. This is a job she had given up while she could still teach the younger generation how to organize and serve in the kitchen.

Jessie Payne was the deaconess of her church and she always made the unleavened bread for the communion service. She was always ready and willing to be a delegate for the church when needed.

She was a faithful volunteer at the Holzer Medical Center from 1973 to August 2016.
Jessie Payne was a well-known pillar of her community as she served and served well on the boards of Gallia Co. Community Action, The Serenity House, The Black History Board, The Gallia County Economic Development Association, The Emancipation Celebration Committee, The NAACP and The Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission. She was the Minority Representative for Gallia County and served as Grand Marshall of two parades in Gallipolis. Jessie was honored by receiving the Bud & Donna McGhee Community Service Award; an award issued by the Chamber of Commerce and considered by many to be the highest honor the Chamber can bestow.

As most of you know, she was an avid photo collector and enjoyed beautiful flowers, especially yellow begonias. Not only will she be missed by her daughters, but by all who knew her. Her life was her testimony to her family and friends. So we look today and say “Not my will, but thine be done.”

We don’t know if Jessie has a favorite scripture, but when we think of her, the scripture that comes to our mind is the one found in Philippians 4:13 that says: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”.

Jessie will always be remembered for leaving her footprints in the sand and for touching the lives of everyone through her love and sacrifice of time, money and energy to complete the task that God had put before her.

If Jessie could send a message to us today, I believe she would recite a poem entitled:

I Have a Place in Heaven

Please don’t sing sad songs for me,
Forget your grief and fears,
For I am in a perfect place
Away from pain and tears…

I’m far away from hunger
And hurt and want and pride.
I have a place in Heaven
With the Master at my side.

My life on earth was very good
As earthly lives can go,
But Paradise is so much more
Than anyone can know…

My heart is filled with happiness
And sweet rejoicing too.
To walk with God in perfect peace,
A joy forever new.

Acknowledgment

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to everyone for their prayers, tender words of consolation and all expressions of kindness and sympathy shown during this most difficult time. A special thanks to the staff of Holzer Medical Center, Holzer Senior Care and Hospice (who laughed with them, cried with them and prayed with them). Your kindness and generosity will never be forgotten. May God continue to bless and keep you.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the Waugh-Halley-Wood Funeral Home with Pastors Evan Casey and Calvin Minnis officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday from Noon until the time of service.

A Repast dinner has been prepared and will be served directly after the funeral services at the Gallia County Senior Citizens Building, 1165 State Route 160, Gallipolis, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to, the Holzer Foundation 100 Jackson Pike Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 in Jessie’s memory.

An online guest registry is available at waugh-halley-wood.com