Gussie Watson Payne, 90, of Tifton passed away Thursday, April 14, 2005, at Southern Care Assisted Living in Tifton. Her funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 16, 2005, at Northside Baptist Church in Tifton with the Rev. Dr. Fred Evers officiating. Mrs. Payne was laid to rest at Tift Memorial Gardens.
Lawton Samples, Bobby Usry, George Sirmans, Art McClellan, Carl Andrus, James Cates and Roy Hammons served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were the deacons and members of the Ladies 65 and Up Sunday School Class at Northside Baptist Church in Tifton.
Born March 3, 1915, in Whatley, Alabama, Mrs. Payne was the daughter of the late Samuel Guy Watson and Ina Estelle McMurray Watson. She was also preceded in death by her husband, George Washington Payne; four brothers; and three sisters. Before retiring, she worked as the office manager and bookkeeper for Tifton Machine Works. She was a Pink Lady and a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was as member of Northside Baptist Church in Tifton.
Mrs. Payne is survived by three sons, Bobby Payne of Tifton, Gerald Payne of Folkston and Jimmy Payne of Monroe; one brother, Les Watson of Valdosta; one sister, Sally Watson Gibson of Dade City, Florida; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.