Maye Payne

Vola Maye Payne was born May 19, 1921, in Lubbock County, Texas, where she lived most of her life. She married Thomas W. Payne on August 12, 1944, and he preceded her in death in 1993. They were reunited when she passed away on February 17, 2017. Maye was a member of the Broadway Church of Christ, where she did volunteer work with the Quilting Ladies for many years; she cut out tens of thousands of blocks used in making the quilts. She was a member of various Lubbock civic clubs, including the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Women’s Division, the Insurance Women’s Club, the Desk & Derrick Club, and the Business and Professional Women’s Club, which honored her as “Member of the Year” in 1987. More recently, she was a member of Lubbock’s First Ladies, Lubbock Women’s Club, AARP, RSVP, Seniors Are Special, Highland Medical Center’s Senior Circle, Sunshiners Group at Broadway, and the Knife & Fork Club. She served on the Board and for two years was Recording Secretary for the Friends of the Library; she did volunteer work for the Friends’ book sale for many years. She worked for BP Amoco for 37 years, until her retirement. Mrs. Payne wrote poems, children’s stories, a newsletter column (“Daisies from Maisie”) and articles. With her husband, she established various scholarships, and she championed the cause of working women. A world traveler, she made friends in many places. She was a caring, witty, fun-loving, thoughtful person who brought joy to many people. She adored her friends and family. She took the greatest pleasure in helping others, and in that way she lived out her faith, regretting only that she became too infirm to help as she had always done. Many blessings and prayers go with her. Maye is survived by her daughter, Karen Payne of Miami, Florida, her son, Thomas K. Payne of Lubbock and his wife Angela, her granddaughter Brooke Payne, and her granddaughter Tiffany K. Payne of San Antonio and her husband Nathan Smith, and her great-grandchildren Emily Grace and Aiden Thomas Smith. The family expresses gratitude to her compassionate caregivers Teresa Rangel, Rose Cerda, Karen Penkert, Charlene Tovar, Adela Vera and Elizabeth Sampson. A graveside celebration of Maye’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, February 20, at City of Lubbock Cemetery with Rev. Karl Ihfe of Broadway Church of Christ officiating. You can also celebrate the life of Maye by visiting www.sandersfuneralhome.com. Memorials are suggested to the Children’s Home of Lubbock, 4404 Idalou Rd., Lubbock, TX 79403.

Maye Payne

May 19, 1921 - February 17, 2017