Fessie James Payne

Fessie James Payne, age 89, of Heritage Health Care, formerly of Old Linwood Road, Lexington passed away Friday afternoon, May 25, 2012 at Heritage Health Care of High Point. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, May 29, 2012 in the Davidson Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel with Rev. Frankie Matthews officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Memorial Park.   The family will receive friends at Davidson Funeral Home from 10:00 until 11:00 am Tuesday prior to the service.   Fessie was born in Swain County, NC April 20, 1923 to R.G. Payne and Dora Stanford Payne.  He was a retired employee of Dixie Furniture.  He was a charter member of Lighthouse Baptist Church on Highway 8. He was Preceded in death by his parents; wife Ovilla Monteith Payne on February 27, 2001; sisters, Thelma Payne, Vadie Queen and Eva Queen; brothers, Roy, Grady, Estes and Dillard Payne.   Surviving are his daughter, Evelyn Leonard and husband Pat of Linwood; grandchildren, Todd Leonard, Tammy Pace and husband Stephen and Tandra Garner and husband Chris; great-grandchildren, Seth Pace and wife Lauren, Jordan Pace, Sage, Salem and Staley Leonard, David Owen Garner and Merritt Garner; Sister, Lucy Starr of Lexington; brother, Lorenza Payne of Lexington.     Online condolences may be made at www.davidsonfuneralhome.net