Richard Scott Payne, 54, of Whispering Pines, N.C., passed
away Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, at FirstHealth Hospice House, in Pinehurst, N.C.,
after battling melanoma.
A memorial service for “Rick” was held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday,
Jan. 26, 2013, at Grace Church in Southern Pines, N.C., the church he attended
for nearly 20 years. For many years and up until his recent illness, he served
as “head deacon” at the church.
Randy Thornton, senior pastor of Grace Church, welcomed those
gathered for a “celebration of Rick’s life.”
Mark Kentner, Grace Church’s worship leader, led the
audience in songs. Kentner said Rick designated the songs he wanted for his
memorial service. The congregation sang “How Great Thou Art.” Wendy Gomez soloed
on “Come Like You Promised” (by Amber Brooks), and Kentner led the gathering in
singing “Blessed Be the Name.”
Buck Mims, a Grace member, spoke, describing Rick as his
friend and as a hero who was “humble and strong.”
Rick, a muscular man with an upper-boy build such as that of
a wrestler, was one of five siblings; Rick was the youngest of three brothers. Robert
Payne, the middle brother, delivered a touching eulogy.
“Rick was a gifted carpenter, born in Colorado,” Robert said.
“He was the third son of George and Carolyn. … For Rick, carpentry was more
than about pounding nails; it was about building relationships.”
When God is the architect, you don’t change the plan, Robert
said, adding, “Rick was confident in God’s plan. I think Jesus was pleased with
the way Rick carried out his [God’s] plan.”
In Moore County, N.C., Rick was twice honored for his
building skills by a “house of the year” award.
“Rick was made in Japan,” Robert said. Audience laughter
followed. The family patriarch, George Payne, was “career military.”
Rick was a cub scout, a boy scout and a star high school
football player who wrestled for four years in high school. Rick loved skiing,
either on snow or water, Robert said, adding that Rick attended college for two
years and later married “Trish,” his wife of 26 years.
“Rick lived in or traveled in 22 countries,” Robert said.
“He was a giving person, an organ donor. … Rick was a blessed man, and we were
blessed by his presence.”
Pastor Randy Thornton spoke, noting that he met Rick, who was
born on March 21, 1958, when Rick was “framing in” the Thornton’s present
house.
“I’ve known Rick about 20 years,” he said. “He was a godly
man. … He was a master carpenter. … He often hired people who others wouldn’t
hire.”
Thornton said Rick, as Grace Church’s head deacon, “was the
first one here [at church] and the last one, typically, to leave.” He noted
that Rick loved to cook for men’s meetings, and, when carpentering, often would
look at a doorframe or something of that sort and cut accurately a piece of
wood – without measuring the space it was needed for. Thornton related, “I’d
say, ‘How’d you do that, Rick?’ And Rick always would say, ‘Very carefully.’”
As part of his church duties, Rick recorded the number of
people who attended Grace Church services. Many church attendees often saw him,
equipped with a clipboard and a pen, looking over his half-frame reading
glasses as he counted folk sitting in the worship center.
“Rick had a deep and committed love for his wife, Trish,”
Thornton said. “He was gentle, yet strong. Rick Payne was a man’s man.”
Thornton said that one day Rick told him he had prayed for
God to do whatever it took to bring others – including some of his family members
– to Christ. The day after Rick told Thornton about that prayer, Thornton
received a call informing him that Rick had suffered a stroke.
Thornton read Psalm 116:15: “Precious in the sight of the
Lord is the death of his faithful servants.”
“Rick wanted all his family and friends to come to know the
Lord,” said Thornton, who referred to the following Scriptures:
“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not
only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).
Thornton, who described the Apostle Paul, in his older
years, as torn between wanting to go to heaven or staying to help those who
needed him on earth, read this verse:
“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with
Christ, which is better by far.”
Thornton referred
to this verse:
“Just as people
are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment … ” (Hebrews 9:27).
“Rick wanted his
life to be a testimony,” Thornton said. “He was a hero. ... He was a man’s man,
but he was a godly man’s man. He was a model for many men, here.”
Thornton said
Rick came to know Christ at an early age and devoted himself more fully to
Christ at Grace Church.
“Life’s greatest
joy is the sure hope of heaven,” Thornton said. “Rick wanted others to come to
know Christ.”
Thornton invited
anyone who wanted to accept Jesus Christ as Savior to repeat a prayer as he led.
He then led in that prayer and closed the service.
Most people who attended the memorial joined the Payne
family in the Grace Church Youth Room for food and more stories about Rick.
Many attendees stepped to a microphone and shared fond memories of Rick Payne.
Rick’s obituary, published in “The Pilot” newspaper of
Southern Pines, N.C., contained this information:
Richard was born on March 21, 1958, in Denver, Colo., to
George and Carolyn (Kraybill) Payne. He graduated from Westhampton Beach High
School in 1976. Hardworking and dedicated, he was employed by Payne’s Lawn and
Tree and Tim Seiger Building before relocating to Whispering Pines in 1993.
Later, he owned and operated his own construction business,
Richard Payne Carpentry, and had built numerous homes in Moore County. He was
an active member of Grace Church and was very involved with the church’s
construction of the new addition in Southern Pines and also in the construction
of their church in Seven Lakes. He served as head deacon and was active in
men’s ministry and mission work, especially building homes and a school for
families in Honduras.
Richard will be remembered forever for his powerful faith in
God, his humor, his open and compassionate heart, his mission to help others —
and most of all, for his deep and abiding love for his family.
In addition to his parents, George and Carolyn Payne, of
Pinehurst, he is survived by his wife of 26 years, Patricia Knotoff, of
Whispering Pines; two brothers, George E. Payne (Lynn), of East Quogue, N.Y.,
and Robert B. Payne (Paula), of Skokie, Ill.; two sisters, Christine Payne
Wright (David), of Whispering Pines, and Kathryn Payne Tureski (Robert), of
East Quogue, N.Y.; father-in-law, George Knotoff, of Whispering Pines;
sister-in-law Melissa Massimiani (Ron), of Carthage; brother-in-law, Gary
Knotoff, of Quogue, N.Y.; nieces, Kathryn Wright, Amy Wright (Shavar Coffey),
Jennifer Payne, Rebecca Payne; nephews, Charles Wright, George Payne, Michael
Payne, Robert Tureski, Christian Tureski; great niece, Kayla Coffey; and great
nephews, Kyle Coffey and Brayden Wright.
Memorial donations in Richard’s name may be made to Grace
Church, 1519 Luther Way, Southern Pines, NC 28387 or FirstHealth Hospice
Foundation, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.
