1936 – 2014

LYNCHBURG, Va. — Barbara J. Payne, 77, of Lynchburg, Va., went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday morning, June 7, at her home.

Barbara was born on Sept. 15, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pa., the daughter of the late Clara M. Schaul and Thomas Schaul.

She attended Philadelphia College of the Bible and served as a pastor’s wife for more than 21 years at Calvary Baptist Church in Woodsville, N.H., Wayside Bible Baptist Church in Livermore and Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ellsworth. She also taught in the elementary school at Wayside Christian School in Livermore and at Mountainside Christian Academy in Schroon Lake, N.Y.

She served her family and her Lord faithfully throughout her life. She tirelessly ministered to the hurting, the hungry and the bereaved. Her daughters were proud to remind her that she was Miss Bensalem in Bensalem, Pa., in 1954.

Following the line-of-duty death of her son, David R. Payne, of the Lewiston Police Department on July 23, 1988, Barbara and her husband, the Rev. Ray Payne, devoted their lives to caring for the families of fallen police officers and grieving fellow officers all over the country. She considered the law enforcement community to be her extended family.

She was a member of Peace Officers for Christ and Concerns of Police Survivors.

Barbara Payne is survived by her four daughters, Beth Williams and husband, Niles, of Bradenton, Fla., Ginny Dow and husband, Mark, of Lynchburg, Va., Deb Ritz and husband, Rob, of Lynchburg, Va., and Judith Crotts and husband, Jeff, of Anchorage, Alaska; 20 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; her sister, Shirley Reese, of Fort Myers, Fla.; one nephew and one niece.

She was predeceased by her husband, Raymond J. Payne, in 2012; and her son, David Payne, in 1988.

Condolences may be sent by visiting TharpFuneralHome.com.