Bernice Payne

Bernice Payne, 84, passed peacefully into the Lord’s eternal rest on August 14, 2018.  Born on April 29, 1934 in Conway, North Carolina, Bernice was one of two children born to Jessie Sue Robinson.  Bernice’s brother, Frank, died in Harlem, New York, as a young man.

Bernice left North Carolina to attend nursing school and was a 1958 graduate of the Booker T. Washington School of Practical Nursing.    After 33 years in the nursing services at Lake Taylor City Hospital, Bernice retired in 1999.  Working the night shift, she enjoyed taking care of her patients and never complained about taking care of others.   Two of her life-long friends, Aunt Ann Stewart, and Miss Hazel, as we know them, were also nurses and they often shared stories.    Reading was her other passion and she loved reading magazines and other publications.     Gardening was also a favorite pastime.   Working and raising a family left little time for other activities, but Mrs. Payne enjoyed traveling with her husband on the train to visit her children.  Together they loved to host family gatherings for holidays and for Sunday dinners.    One of the most important things to her in life was to see her family eat and fellowship together.   She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

Mrs. Payne was married to Vernon “Skybo” Payne for 52 years until she became a widow in 2015.   Bernice is also preceded in death by granddaughter, Shauna Brown.   Their union was blessed with four boys and three girls.     Sons – James and wife, Betty, of Fort Washington, MD; Vernon and wife, Cynthia, of Virginia Beach; Michael and wife, Joyce, of Niceville, FL; and Harris Warren, of Norfolk.  Daughters – Angela and husband, Danny, of Virginia Beach; Dana, of Virginia Beach, and Tereasa, of Chesapeake.    The family grew with grandchildren – James (Scotty); Andre; Michael Jr., DeAngelo, Christopher, Sharisse, Ashlee, Rakita, Vernon, Raqheal, Jette, Raymond, Jr., Jermaine, Jeffrney, and Cameron.  Bernice and Vernon also have 27 great-grandchildren, the youngest of which is A.J. (Andre Jr.) and Ethan.

Mrs. Payne was a member of New St. Mark Baptist Church in Norfolk under the pastorage of Rev. Elmar Phillips.   She attended faithfully until her health would not allow her to.    Her quiet demeanor and kind heart will be missed by many relatives and friends.