Jessie May Payne

Jessie Mae Payne, age 81, of Memphis, TN, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Edwardsville, IL, surrounded by her family and friends. Jessie was born on April 11, 1944, in Madison IL, the daughter of the late Jesse & Elizabeth (McMillion) Payne. Jessie is survived by her three sisters, Gloria Allen, of South Bend, IN, Lerleane Chavis, of Edwardsville, IL, and Mary L. Neal, of Menifee, CA; a sister-in-law, Alice Payne; and a host of nieces and nephews who she dearly loved.  She is also survived by her long-time friends, Georgie Olivier, Maurice Olivier, Karen Lee, Galen Williams, Vickie Graham O’Neal, Addie Taylor, Ann Mullins, Shirley Carrol, & Mary Shaw.   Besides her parents, Jessie was preceded in death by a sister, Isabelle Brown; three brothers, Edward Brown, Hubert Payne, & Anthony Payne; four brothers-in-law, Fred Allen, LeRoy Chavis, James Neal, Sr., & Gregory Brown, Sr.; and two nephews, James Neal, Jr., & Gregory Brown, Jr.  Jessie attended Dunbar Grade School and graduated from Madison High School.  She graduated from City of Memphis Hospital School of Nursing in 1967.  Jessie attended Tennessee State University in Nashville TN. City of Memphis Hospital School of Nursing for Registered Nurses and University of Memphis (formerly Memphis State) for BSN degree. She was employed at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee for 46 years and was an Administrative Supervisor at retirement. Served as a member of HealthNet Federal Credit Union Board of Directors for more than 20 years. She was very active in the community and owned several booths at a midtown flea market. She loved to travel all over the world and always helped her family During her younger years, Jessie was member of the Southern Baptist Church and eventually became a longtime member of the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Memphis, TN. A visitation will be held on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Weber in Rodney Funeral Home in Edwardsville, IL from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm.  A graveside service will immediately follow at St. James Cemetery in Edwardsville where she will be interred. Condolences may be expressed online at weberfuneralhome.com.

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