Lucy Payne

Obituary of Lucy Harrison Payne

Lucy Harrison Payne of Lynchburg died Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at Westminster-Canterbury. "Duchie", as she was fondly known, was born in Lynchburg, December 31, 1915, to the late Daniel Allen Payne and Mary Norvell Miller Payne. Aunt to seven nieces and nephews, fourteen great nieces and nephews, and eleven great, great nieces and nephews, Duchie was a wonder to her family and friends. There simply wasn't anything or anyone she did not know something about. Her years of working in Millner's Department Store and later Buckingham-Flippin jewelry store prepared her for her lifelong role of family chronicler and community connector. Whether it was a china pattern, a favorite piece of jewelry, a birth date, a death, a wedding, or even a recent visit from out-of-town company, Duchie remembered it all and shared it gladly and often. Many of the women in her family and many of her friends wear pieces of jewelry Duchie passed on to them, always with a written account of to whom it had belonged and why it was special -- and in some cases, even its value! She was generous with her advice and her opinion, always in a ladylike, civil manner. She wanted to make sure that those she loved knew where they came from, who they were related to, and how and why it mattered. Her remarkable memory, her penchant for fun and mischief, and her uncanny ability to connect unsuspecting people to one another through family relationships or social occasions will be missed. She adored her immediate family and never missed an opportunity to say so. In fact, she never missed an opportunity to say anything, but that is why she was loved by many. In addition to being the family matriarch, Duchie was a member of the Junior League of Lynchburg and the Servamus Club. She was a lifelong member of St. John's Episcopal Church, where her father was among the founding members. For much of her life she was an active member of the Episcopal Church Women and the St. John's choir. She was one of the longest-living residents of the Williams Home before moving, a short time ago, to Westminster-Canterbury. Duchie is survived by her nieces and nephews: Mary Norvell Millner Thomson and her husband, Clay, of Lynchburg; H. Victor Millner Jr. and his wife, Lane, of Chatham; Daniel Allen Payne II and his wife, Vivian; Joseph P. L. Payne and his wife, Katherine; Nancy Payne Strosnider and her husband, Mark, all of Lynchburg; Mary Margaret Payne Little and her husband, Downs, of Lottsburg; and a cousin, Jane Baber White and her husband, Kenneth, also of Lynchburg, and their families. Duchie was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Norvell Payne Millner and Elizabeth Payne Carter; a brother, John Miller Payne; and a nephew, Nelson W. Carter Jr. Following a private interment in Spring Hill Cemetery, a memorial service will be held Saturday, March 21, 2009, at 1l:00 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church with The Rev. Michael R. Sullivan, The Rev. Robert K. Marshall, and The Rev. Diane Vie officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, The Williams Home, Westminster-Canterbury, Lynchburg or the charity of your choice. Diuguid Funeral Service-Wiggington Chapel ( 385-8900 ) is serving the family.
Share Your Memory of
Lucy