Willie J. “Scoopie” Payne, of Atlanta, Georgia, died June 30, 2009. Services were held Friday July 3, 2009, at 11:00am at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Atlanta, Georgia with the Most Rev. Moses B. Anderson of Detroit officiating.
Willie J. Payne was born on June 27, 1933 in Monroeville, Alabama. Reared as an only child to Emma and John Payne, he spent all of his school years in Selma, Alabama, graduating from Hudson High School in 1952. Willie spent a large time of his early years in the Don Bosco Boys Club in Selma, run by the Edmundite Priests. The experience was an enriching one, so much so, that the men have an annual reunion club, had a very positive influence on Willie’s life, including encouraging him and 100-150 other young African American males Selma to attend college, including Xavier University of Louisiana. In 1952, while matriculating at Xavier, he met Nina Heyward. He graduated from Xavier in 1956 with a degree in Business Administration. After graduation, he served two years in the Marine Corps and later moved to New York City. While in New York, he married Nina Heyward on April 19, 1958 and in 1969, he moved back South to Atlanta, Georgia where he had four children and reared his family. On April 19, 2008, he was employed at Sears and Roebuck, Eastern Airlines, Fulton County Stadium, and the Atlanta Housing authority.
His great loves are his family, Xavier University, the Don Bosco Boys Club Alumni Association, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, and all sports. He is survived by his wife, Nina; his children, Pamela Foster (William)-Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Nelson Payne-Atlanta, Georgia; Panesa “Penny” Payne -Atlanta, Georgia; and Phillip Payne (Marvalisa)Augusta, Georgia; three adopted daughters, Rose Flowers (deceased), Dorothy Mayes (James)-Verbena, Alabama; and Angela Daniel-Decatur, Georgia; three grandchildren Evelyn, Erin, and Jasmine Payne; a devoted cousin, Betty McCorvey-Jamaica, NY; a god sister, Evelyn olds-Atlanta, Georgia; and a host of in laws, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends from all over the country who knew him in a myriad of nicknames including “Scoop,” “Scoopie,” “Blood,” and “Coach,”. He will be sorely missed.