Judith "Judy" Payne

Funeral services for Judy Payne, 81, of Cleburne, will be held at 11:00AM on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in the Calvary Baptist Church, Cleburne with Rev. Charles E. Payne and Rev. Brooks Monk officiating along with a host of others assisting and participating in various roles. Interment will follow in the Greenacres Memorial Park in Cleburne with her nephews serving as pallbearers and Deacons of Calvary Baptist Church, Cleburne & Grandview as honorary pallbearers. There will be a time for family and friends to fellowship during the visitation from 6:00-8:00 PM on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at Calvary Baptist Church, Cleburne. Anyone unable to attend the visitation or service are welcome to sign the register book at Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Judy passed away at her home in Cleburne on Monday, April 21, 2025. Judith Gail (Judy) Whiteside was born on January 14, 1944 in Fort Worth, Texas to Oliver Frank and Earline Vivian Lynch Whiteside. She married Charles E. Payne on November 25, 1967 at the Friendly Lane Baptist Church in Haltom City, Texas. Judy attended the Brantley Drawn Business School in Fort Worth where she excelled in short-hand dictation. In their early years, she could often be found dictating her husband’s sermons from the front row in short-hand. Her strong faith and calling for others allowed her to be a great witness to Christ and serve in children, seniors and shut-in ministries throughout her adult-life. Throughout her years of teaching and pouring into children, she was known for her scripture memorization lessons most. Judy has been described as being caring, vivacious and outgoing. She worked as an educator with Cleburne Christian School for a number of years prior to becoming known as the “voice of Cleburne’s Wal-Mart”, where she worked for 25 years in the jewelry department and as a greeter as well. Her welcoming spirit echoed throughout all she did, to say the least. Judy had the capacity to love – unconditionally, with all she was and beyond circumstance. She was the ultimate story book version of a Granny. Her pound cakes brought the highest praise and dollar at events in which she donated them to. Judy enjoyed crocheting and did so with great precision and talent. She traveled throughout the world with Rev. Charles E. Payne, many countries in which he delivered the gospel as well include, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, England, Germany, Switzerland, The Holy Land, Egypt, Holland, Jordan, Petra, Hong Kong, Philippines, Italy, Greece, Scotland and Canada. Judy’s impact on those who knew her will continue to be treasured for years to come. She will be greatly missed.

Judy is preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include her husband of 57 years, Rev. Charles E. Payne; daughters & sons-in-law, Mary Earline Turnage & Dr. Calvin Turnage, Kimberly Gail Hodges & Chad Hodges, and Charla Michelle Ledbetter & Rev. Todd Ledbetter; grandchildren, Kassaundra Swain & Sam, Chassidy Rauer & Colby, Cheyenne Taylor & John, Allison Dunn & Anthony, Nathaniel Turnage, Anna Schwoyer & Kaleb, Jonathan Hodges, and Kaci Turnage & Luke Duncan; great grandchildren, Jace, Jaustin, John David, Kason, Fynlee, Kami, Callie, Anastasia, Harry, Tanner, River, Grayson, Silas, and Lincoln; sisters, Ann Wilkerson and Vivian Prouty; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home

www.cpcleburne.com