James "Tommy" Thomas Payne, Sr.

Mr. James Thomas “Tommy” Payne, Sr., 67, of Pineview, Georgia went to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at Taylor Regional Hospital in Hawkinsville, Georgia.

A private graveside service will be held Monday, June 22, 2020 in Oakridge Cemetery with Rev. Steve Davis officiating.

Mr. Payne was born February 21, 1953 in Tifton to the late Edward Eugene Payne and Grace Lyon Payne. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by infant brother, David. Mr. Payne was a member of First Baptist Church of High Falls in Forsyth, Ga. He graduated from Tift County High School in 1971 and was a member of the band where he played the trumpet. He later attended Ben Hill Irwin Tech. Tommy worked with Dowdy Crop-Dusting Services and Shady Lane as a young adult. He was the owner and operator of Payne Generator Services in Ashburn for thirty years. He then moved to Knoxville, TN where he worked for Power Master Motorsports and MCI of Chicago, Il., as a technical support and consultant for high performance and racing components. He attended car shows both as a vendor and as a spectator where he sold high performance alternators and starters. He had a wealth of knowledge when it came to antique cars. Mr. Payne loved his family especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved to watch Andy Griffin on T.V. and his favorite character was Barney Fife.

Mr. Payne is survived by his wife Brenda Willis Payne of Brookfield to whom he was married for twenty-seven years; three daughters and sons-in-law, Twyla and Sport Downs of TyTy, Melissa and Bryan Moore of Boston and Natalie and Skip Malcom of Warner Robins; three sons and daughters-in-law, James “Jamie” and Kathy Payne of Dillwyn, Va., Jay and Lisa Copeland of Red Bud, IL., and Wes and Katrina Copeland of Smithville, Ga.; eighteen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert E. “Bob” and Pat Payne of Sycamore and Charles Murray and Kathy Payne of Bloomington, IL.; also many nieces, nephews, cousins and beloved friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be may to First Baptist Church of High Halls, 4408 High Falls Road,  Jackson Ga., 30233.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.