Martha Sims Payne

Martha Sims “Panky” Payne, age 88, passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at her home in Pineview, Ga.with her family at her bedside.She was born in Wilcox County, Ga. in 1925 to the late J. Frank Sims and the late Martha Doster Sims. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, James William Payne, Jr. in 2011 and her sister, Gennye Bailey earlier this year. Mrs. Payne graduated from Decatur Girls High and the University of Georgia, always a true Bulldog.She taught in the Atlanta School System at Ed S. Cook Elementary School for 32 years.She was the district regent of the Barron DeKalb chapter and the Hawkinsville chapter of DAR.She was also involved with the Pineview Home and Garden Club and the Wilcox County Arts Council.She loved the water and spent many years entertaining family and friends at her home in Land’s End, SC and later at her home at Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Ga.Panky and Jim moved to her beloved Pineview in 2006. She is survived by children, Jimmy and Gaye Payne of St. Simons Island and Polly Hendricks of Monroe;grandchildren, Jennifer Morrison of St. Simons Island, Jessica (Sam) Brannen of Leesburg, Meagan Hendricks of Monroe and Jim Hendricks of Columbus and great grandson, Wyatt Brannen of Leesburg.She is also survived by her sister, Katherine Strickland of Sarasota, Florida. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 14th at 1:00 PM at Cedar Creek Baptist Church with Dr. Napp Granade officiating.Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cedar Creek Baptist Church, C/O Norman Cohen, 16495 Hwy. 233, Abbeville, Ga. 31001. Frazier and Son Funeral Home in Rochelle is in charge of arrangements.