Mr. Sam Payne

Mr. Sam Millard Payne, age 70, a well-known farmer and businessman of Calhoun, died Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at his residence following an extended illness. He was born in Calhoun at the Johnson-Hall Clinic on September 14, 1943, son of the late Oscar Millard Payne, who died in 1968, and the late Ruth Alice Patterson Payne in 1999. Sam attended Belwood School and was a 1961 graduate of Calhoun High School. He was a 1963 graduate of Reinhardt College with a BA degree in History, and attended the University of Georgia, pursuing a Masters degree in History. He was owner and operator of Payne Farm and Produce. Sam was a veteran, serving his country in the US Army, the Army Security Agency, and the National Security Agency from 1966 through 1968. He was a member of Farmville United Methodist Church. During his lifetime, Sam was active in many associations and boards, including an FFA and 4-H Volunteer Leader; the state 4-H Advisory Board; a Gordon County School Board Member; past president and member of the Red Carpet Cattlemen’s Association; past president and member of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association; vice-president of NCBA, Region 2, and had served on various committees of the NCBA; past president of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce; member of the Gordon County Farm Bureau Board for 31 years; committee member of the GA State Farm Bureau Commodity Board; served on the Governor’s Water Conservation Board under Gov. Nathan Deal; a founding member of the Gordon County Young Farmers; past State Chaplain of Georgia Young Farmers; elected to the North Georgia Regional Development Authority; a board member of the Regional Water Conservation; member of the Georgia Beef Board, and member of the National Beef Check-Off Board; past president of GCYFA; and appointed member of the NWGA Regional Counsel Board. He leaves behind his wife of 48 years, Eleanor Ann Barrett Payne; a son, Millard Payne; two daughters, Mary Manning and her husband Bruce, and Carla Payne and Scott Bowers, all of Calhoun; grandchildren, Shayna, Breana, and Matthew Manning; Godson, Sonny Fox and his wife Amy and their children, Layla, Kayla, Luke, and Ely; Goddaughters, Sandra Lopez, Bianka Reyes, and Vanessa Smith; and an aunt, Fannie Payne. Nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives also survive. Services to celebrate the life of Mr. Sam Millard Payne will be held Friday, April 18th at 1:00 PM from the chapel of Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home, with Rev. Ralph Kinman and Rev. Guy Kent officiating. Music will be arranged by Burt Jeffords. Interment will follow in the Shoal Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Waleska, GA with military honors. Active pallbearers will include Sonny Fox, Kevin Smith, Lynn Greeson, Stephen Worley, Leonard Fletcher, Tom Drake, Greg Gillman, and George Kirkland. Honorary pallbearers are Jerry “Smoky” Quinn, R.M. Hice, Ron Glaubitz, Milton Stewart, C.W. Barrett, Jackie Blalock, J.W. Ralston, Charles Holcombe, Julian Holcombe, Dr. Craig Box, Dr. Brent Box, Dr. Will Theus, Young Farmers, Farm Bureau members, and members of the Cattlemen’s Association. The Payne family will receive friends at Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home Thursday after 4:00 PM. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the Sam Payne Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 246, Calhoun, GA 30703. Online condolences may be left at www.maxbrannonandsons.com. Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of services for Mr. Sam Millard Payne, age 70 of Calhoun.

Mr. Sam Payne

September 14, 1943 - April 15, 2014