Mary Lee Payne

MARY LEE PAYNE, 95; (nee Green) was one of two children born to the union of Mary Green (nee Harvey) and Harry Green on August 30, 1918, in St. Louis, Missouri. She moved with her parents to Cleveland, Ohio, at four years of age. Both of her parents and her brother Charles preceded her in death. She was born in a world where there were no cell phones. Alexander Graham Bells invention, first considered no more than a toy, was less than forty years old when Ma Payne was born. Television was not introduced until about 1928, and color television wasnt available until the middle 1950s. Women were not allowed to vote when Baby Girl Green arrived. The McCalls magazine featured a gored skirt below the calf and just barely above the ankle. It was considered somewhat risqu with a kick pleat. Loose women wore face paint. There was no integration of schools, and certainly, the idea of an African-American (called Negro, or colored then) as President was a concept beyond natural comprehension. Colored folk were second class citizens at best, and still used different water fountains, and were not allowed to integrate public places, including some churches. Mary met and married Carl Payne on August 9, 1939, after she graduated from Central High School. They had two children, Donald and Carlene. Carl Payne passed from this life on December 24, 1998. Mary Paynes grandchildren include Donalds children: Keith (Tracy), Carlton, and Angela, and Carlenes children: Alischia Fairfax and Nicole Scott-Tate (Jermaine). Her Great Grandchildren include Donalds Grandchildren: Chaz, Alena, Iziaha, Aaliyah, and Aiden. Carlenes Grandchildren include Seanita Scott, Scott Tate, Sydney and Asia Shelton.. Donald and Christine, his beloved wife, share her children, Hubert, Chellene, Terry (Geraldine), Carla, Julious, and Christian, who refer to Donald as Daddy Don. Ma Payne also had a close niece and nephew, Archie Dorsey (Simone) and Diane Crenshaw (Willie). She also had one sister-in-law, her brother Charles wife, Diane Green of Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to being a wife and mother, Mary Payne worked for Mr. I. R. Dowie, the President of Carling Brewery, for 26 years. She then managed Vita Mart, located in the historic Old Arcade in Downtown Cleveland for more than 25 years when she retired. Mary Payne was a member of St. Edwards Catholic Church on East 69th and Woodland Avenues. At the time of her passing, Mary Payne was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church on St. Clair Avenue. Mary was a devout Catholic and a firm believer in Jesus Christ and His principles, which she lived and demonstrated. Ma Payne, as she was called with love, had many skills and a quick wit and sense of humor. She was one of the original members of a civic group called the Twelve Duchesses, from the years following her high school graduation. She was one of three surviving founding members at the time of her demise. She was loving and compassionate, but would not bite her tongue if admonishment was called for. She had superb needlework skills. Some of her quilts have been on exhibit at the Karamu House. She enjoyed visitors until the end of her days on earth. Mary Payne had what the Jewish community identifies as chutzpah, or audacity. She was not afraid of anything, as evidenced by her treks to Tai Chi with Katie. The group was impressed by her example and willingness to try new things. Mary Lee Payne blessed us all with a legacy of charm, wit, productivity and love. She was a woman of character and distinction; had strong values and principles, and was a lady; a true star among us, and a great example to follow. She was surrounded by family and close friends, and the angels that were assigned to her, including Carol Moore, a true Nurse-Ambassador, Katie Dixon, Eloise Marlow, Dorothy Neely, Marchelle Mitch Jackson, Felicia Hale, the Cleveland Clinic medical team that cared for her, including the home care staff. The nurses and staff from the clinic cared for Mrs. Payne as if she were their family. This is also true of her caregiver-friend, Eloise Marlow, noted above. At Rest. On the last day Mary Payne spent at the Clinic, before being transferred, it appeared the desire to continue to be the soldier she was on this side was at war with the desire to be at rest. She was aware of her surroundings, especially of her beloved babies Donald and Carlene-Cookie, and Grandson Keith, as well as Katie. The Spirit? Willing. The Flesh? Weary. These tears we have will dry but our hearts remain quickened by her memory and the knowledge that she is at the rest she has earned after ninety-five precious years of service to the Lord and, through Him, to all of us. She went to sleep in the wee hours of Sunday, April 6, 2014. Family will receive friends on Saturday, April 19 at 12:30 PM with Homegoing service at 1:00 PM at Watsons Funeral Home, 10913 Superior Ave.