R.G. Payne Jr

Mr. R.G. (Chester) Payne, Jr. Calhoun, passed away Monday, August 25, 2008 at his residence following several months of declining health. He was 69 years of age.

Mr. Payne was born on September 21, 1938 in Gordon County, son of the late Rubin G. Payne Sr. and Maggie Bennett Payne. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, J.T. Payne, and sister, Shirley DeHaan. Up until his death, he was employed by Shaw Industries in Dalton. He was honored this past January as being a faithful employee for 50 years. He started to work on January 10, 1958, and was known as a dedicated employee, a great teacher and hard worker. He was an inspiration to the employees at Shaw Industries as well as to his family. Mr. Payne was a member of Blackwood Springs Baptist Church and of the Grace Sunday School Class, and a member of the Gordon Central High School Blue Wave Marching Band Club.

Mr. Payne is survived by his wife, Reba Scoggins Payne, to whom he had been married for 40 years; a daughter, April Kenner of Calhoun; a son, Tyler Payne of Calhoun; two sisters, Joyce McLauglin of Gilbert, Arizona, and Edna Wright and her husband Barry of Calhoun; one granddaughter, Jennifer Kenner of Calhoun; sisters-in-law, Lillie Ware, Marie Massingill and Johnnie Bramlett and her husband Paul, all of Ringgold, Lois Cornelison of Milton, Florida, Linda Forrester and her husband Charles of East Ridge, Tennessee; and brothers-in-law, Frank Scoggins and his wife Jean, and Donald Scoggins and his wife Sue, all of Ringgold. Aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Funeral services for Mr. R.G. (Chester) Payne, Jr. will be conducted Thursday at 2:00pm from the Blackwood Springs Baptist Church, with Rev. Ken Conner and Rev. Lamar Bearden officiating. Mr. Payne will lie in state at the church on Thursday for one hour prior to the funeral service. Singing will be arranged by Jennifer Kenner, Raley Gillian, Faye Prater and Ron Hammontree. Active pallbearers serving will include Ronnie Stokes, James Newton, Willard Myers, Lee Carver, Junior Poe, Jimmy Hix, David Huitt and Wayne Young. These gentlemen are requested to meet at the funeral home Thursday at 12:00 noon. Honorary escorts serving will include Kyle Smith, Tim Tate, Robert Wright, Brad Sanford, Cathy Davis, Sarah Walker, Michelle Carney, Wanda Lynn, Russell Gilbert, Marcus Kenner, Bennie Frost, Brent Boatwright, Mike Sanders and Gary Stewart. These ladies and gentlemen are requested to meet at the church on Thursday at 1:45 p.m. Interment will follow in the Harmony Cemetery. The family will begin receiving friends at Max Brannon & Sons Funeral Home Tuesday at 6:00pm.

Online condolences may be expressed and the guestbook signed at www.maxbrannonandsons.com Family owned and operated Max Brannon & Sons Funeral Home is conducting the funeral services for Mr. R.G. (Chester) Payne, of Calhoun.