Willie Lewis Payne

Willie Lewis “Billy” Payne, 85, of Ladysmith went to his Heavenly Home Saturday, July 24, 2021.

He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who loved camping in the mountains and collecting antique tractors. Billy was a lifetime member of County Line Baptist Church and possessed the spiritual gift of service which he used to the best of his ability. He also loved being a part of and helping with the grounds keeping at the Caroline Co. Agricultural Fair.

He graduated from C. T. Smith High after two years at Fork Union Military Academy. Billy served in the Fredericksburg area Army National Guard for five years. In addition, he attended the Tidewater Police Academy and took courses in narcotics and dangerous drugs at VCU.

Billy was employed by Tidewater Telephone Company until he accepted a position with the Caroline County Sheriff’s Department in 1965. He served as a field deputy and the first Chief Jailer for the new Caroline County Jail.  He left the Sheriff’s for a position with the Virginia ABC Board where he was promoted to assistant director in Enforcement Division and Security Specialist until retirement.

Billy is survived by his adoring wife, Diane, his three children, daughters, Pamela Payne Chenault (Frankie) and Cathy Payne Gravatt, both of Ruther Glen, and son Billy Payne, Jr. of Shingleton, MI; his sister, Judi Moore; three step children, Patty Hall (Kevin), Penny Caswell (Cliff) and Ray Pritt, Jr. (Candy); six grandchildren, Jennifer Kendrick (Nate), Randal Chenault (Ashley), Trevor Chenault (Sierra), Andrew Gravatt (Janae), Brittany Gravatt, Jonathan Anthony; four step grandchildren, Brittany Caswell, Shannon Dillon (Matt), Ashley Cauthorne and Jasper Hall; seven great grandchildren, John Mason, Travis and Grayson Bright, Hadley, Hunter and Hank Chenault and Aubrey Chenault; and three step great grandchildren, Bryson, Matthew, and Kayden Dillon.

He was preceded in death by father, W. Mason Payne and mother, Edith E. Payne.

The family will receive friends at the Bowling Green chapel of Storke Funeral Home on Friday, July 30, 2021 from 6:00 – 8:00pm. A memorial service celebrating his life will be on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 11:00 am in County Line Baptist Church, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to County Line Baptist Church 3461 Ladysmith Rd. Ruther Glen VA 22546. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.storkefuneralhome.com.