Thomas Payne

Thomas Earl "Tommy" Payne, Jr., of Easley, SC, formerly of Brevard, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2017. A native of Transylvania County, he was the son of the late Thomas Earl Payne, Sr. and the late Lillie Gravley Payne Blackwell. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brothers: Hovey Gravley and Ronnie Blackwell.

Mr. Payne was a long-time member and former deacon of First Baptist Church of Brevard where he and his wife Billie served for many years. He was a member of Dunn's Rock Masonic Lodge and also the former president of the Western North Carolina Safety Association. He retired after working at Ecusta/Olin in Brevard for 44 years in the area of safety and loss prevention.

Tommy was devoted to his family, his church and to his community.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Billie Hart Payne; son Thomas Patrick Payne and wife Lisa of Fairview, NC and daughter Suzanne Payne Hall and husband Cary of Easley, SC; grandchildren Thomas Kyle Payne and wife Carter, Lydia Anne Moats and husband Jeffrey, Marlowe Payne and Luke Hall; great-grandson Thomas River Payne; his brother Harry Blackwell and sister Kathy Payne Bragg.

Funeral Services for Tommy Payne will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at First Baptist Church of Brevard with Rev. Tommy Crocker officiating. Interment will follow at Gillespie-Evergreen Cemetery in Brevard. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, prior to the service.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to College Walk of Brevard and also to Foothills Retirement Community of Easley, as well as Lutheran Hospice for the excellent care they all provided Tommy.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Tommy's name to First Baptist Church, 94 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712.

To leave a condolence for the family of Tommy Payne, please visit "obituaries" at www.moore-fh.com Moore-Blanchard Funerals & Cremations is caring for the family.