Martha E. Payne returned to her heavenly home into the loving arms of her husband Charles “Pinky” Payne, son William Charles Payne and her parents Pearl Rose and Ivan F Cordell.
Martha was born December 12, 1935 in Pampa, Texas. She adored her mother and often repeated her sage advice throughout her life. She attended Texas Tech University where she was thrilled to develop her independence that would be a strength throughout her life. There she met her true love, Charles H Payne. They were married in San Antonio Texas on March 26, 1959 and welcomed their first child Penelope in 1960. Their second child William Charles was born in 1962 in Del Rio Texas.
They lived a happy adventurous life in the Air Force until 1976 when they retired to Arkansas and purchased the first of several motels. Pinky and Martha traveled the world ending too early when Pinky passed in 1990.
On a trip with a friend to New York, Martha connected with an old family connection Ralph Hoffman and discovered love a second time. Once Ralph retired, they moved to Loudon, Tennessee where they enjoyed a peaceful life of friendship, love, travel and golf. When Ralph passed away in March of 2005, Martha moved back to Williamsburg, Virginia to be near her children.
A few days before her passing Martha told friends that she had finally found the peace and joy she had been seeking her whole life when she learned a family can be together forever. Martha met missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and her life changed for the better. She attended the Washington DC temple where she and her family were sealed together for time and all eternity. She was elated with the knowledge that there was a way to know emphatically that there is a life after this and that she would be with her loved ones again.
Martha shone with joy infecting all those blessed to be around her. Martha is survived by her daughter Penelope E Payne, son-in-law Roy E Johnson, sister Arvella Storrs, nieces Martha Moore, Alisha Nix, Dawn McGruder and nephews Chad Storrs and James Leach.
A celebration of Martha’s life will be held on May 7, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2017 Newman Rd., Williamsburg, Virginia.
In Lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The Mission fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints https://donate.churchofjesuschrist.org/donations/church/missionary-fund.
The post appeared first on Bucktrout Funeral Home and Crematory.
