Mr. Billie Dean Payne was born on May 11th, 1938 in Tutwiler, MS to the union of Willie Lu Martin & John Payne who preceded him in death.
Paw Paw, as Billie was called by his family and closest friends was a born again Christian and confessed his faith in Christ at an early age. Billie was a proud veteran and enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served time in Alaska. Billie was united in matrimony to Venetta Prather on May the 20th 1967 in Chicago, IL.
Billie was an Electrical Foreman and was employed at O’Hare airport in Chicago, IL until he retired, where he was appointed the 1st black Electrical Technician. Billie had a passion for travelling with his beautiful bride and for fifty-seven years, they explored the globe. Billie had other passions, his family, the Windy City Travelers, and his mobile home. Billie’s favorite sport was working. If he was not building or fixing something in his house you would find him at work. Billie and “Kid”, as Billie so lovingly called his wife, the love of his life. They were always together and you never saw one without the other. Paw Paw loved spending time with family and friends. He loved when they were around, but so famously could not wait for them to leave. He enjoyed Jazz music and you would often find him in his Man Cave listening to Johnnie Taylor and enjoying his favorite drink. Please know, if ever you borrowed money from him, he had it written down somewhere. Paw Paw instilled in his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren his strength, pride and responsibility. He held himself and everyone he knew to a high standard and to never settled for less than excellence.
Billie “Paw Paw” departed this life on Saturday, October 26th at *:10pm. He was proceeded in death by his daughter Annice Patterson. Billie leaves to cherish memories: Wife – Venetta (Suga) Payne; Children – Doretha P Banks, Annice Patterson (preceded in death), Marcella McDonald, Derrick Palmer Sr. and Sharon Auston; Sisters – Judy Sawyer, Dorothy Robinson, and Lindsay Payne; Brother – Donald Payne; Grandchildren – Venetta Patterson, Michelle Annice Banks, Mark Palmer. Sr., Stanley Patterson, Brandy Ashford, Latasha Palmer, Derrick Palmer Jr., Marcia McDonald, Chanelle Branch, Dominique Leach; Great Grandchildren – Steven Jones, Mark Palmer Jr, Steven Palmer, Deijon Ashford, Myles Palmer, Charles Sales Jr., Madison Brown, Apollo Palmer, Bronx Patrick, Logan Patterson, Amir Palmer, Nyomi Palmer, Nadia Branch, Nature and DJ, Gerard Austin, Yarmell Austin ad Terrell Austin.
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