Obituary: Mary Elizabeth Payne

Mary Elizabeth Payne, 90 years of age, passed away on Jan. 9, 2015, at Vitas Hospice in Winter Garden.

She was born on Feb. 6, 1924, an only child, to Allen Brown Kannon and Sudie Wilkes Kannon, of Winter Garden. Mary Elizabeth grew up in Winter Garden, attended local schools and was a member of First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden. She attended junior college in Henderson, North Carolina. There, she met Floyd Charles Payne of Garland, Texas, at a USO gathering for soldiers. Mr. Payne was in the U.S. Army, serving as a chef. During the length of their marriage, they had three children.

As a young woman, Mary Elizabeth became mentally ill and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. While she was never able to work full-time or drive a car, she did help raise her children when she was able. All her children were raised by their maternal grandparents. Mary Elizabeth enjoyed social occasions, her large extended family in Winter Garden, had a love of pets, especially cats, and played the piano flawlessly by ear. After the death of her parents, she was able to live on her own for many years. Then she became a resident at Orlando Health and Rehabilitation Center for 13 years. She continued to enjoy family visits, traveling to be with her daughters and family members, shopping and dressing up, remaining active until she suffered a stroke a year ago.

Mary Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, Brown and Sudie Kannon; her son, Floyd Allen Payne; and her grandson, Michael Albin Newberg. Mary Elizabeth is survived by her daughters, Sue Newberg Shuman (David Shuman), of Ocoee, and Charlene Payne Kammerer (Leigh Kammerer), of Lake Junaluska, North Carolina; grandchildren, Shane Bradley Newberg (Lori), of Lithia; Alpha Sanders Newberg (Michael), of Windermere; Christopher Hal Kammerer (Rosemary), of Virginia Beach; Virginia; and Frazier De Loach, of Arden, North Carolina; great-grandchildren, Katelyn and E. J. Newberg, Collin and Anna Rose Newberg, Christopher, Noelle, Elton and Maxton (Max) Kammerer, Braydon and Audrey Thompson; a host of cousins and extended family members.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at Woodlawn Cemetery for family and friends. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Rusty Belcher, senior pastor, First United Methodist Church, Winter Garden.

The family is eternally grateful for the longtime community care for Mary Elizabeth, expressed in so many ways, by family, church members, family friends, doctors and nurses and hospital staff.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden, Florida, 34787 or Vitas Hospice Care, 12751 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden, Florida 34787.