James Payne,

James Leroy Payne, Sr., age 66 of Bluefield, VA, passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at his home, following a lengthy, courageous battle with cancer. He was born July 6, 1943 in Grundy, VA and was a son of the late Alex and Susie Blankenship Payne. Mr. Payne had worked for Rish Equipment Company from 1965 to 1974, and Morris and Marshall Coal Company from 1974 – 1983. In 1983 James and his wife, Ruth started their family business, Payne Equipment Corp. and in 1994 James, and his wife, Ruth along with their sons started Payne Industrial and Farm Equipment Inc. In 1990 James realized a long time dream of having a farm and both his family business and farm are still in operation today. Mr. Payne was a member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, where he had served in many offices and taught Sunday School for many years. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Janie Smith; one brother, Thermon Payne; two brothers-in-law, Bobby Cochran and Jimmy Smith. Survivors include his loving wife, Ruth Martin Payne; three sons, Christopher Aaron Martin and wife, Carol and Alex Reed Payne and wife, Jennifer, all of Bluefield, VA, and James L. Payne, Jr. and wife, Marci of Tazewell, VA; one daughter, Sherry Lynn Payne Sparks and husband, Ralph of North Tazewell, VA; five sisters, Juanita Cochran of Grundy, VA, Mary Sue Garcia of Deerfield Beach, FL, Jean Adkins and husband, Bill of North Tazewell, VA, Betty Payne and Rita Baldridge and husband, Rick all of Tazewell, VA; five brothers, Harold Payne and wife, Nancy of Bluefield, WV, John Payne and wife, Cathy of Bluefield, VA, Ted Payne and wife, Joyce of Eden, NC, Kenneth Payne and wife, Tammy of Bristol, TN, and Luther Payne and wife, Terri of Hickory, NC; eight grandchildren that he loved very much, Christopher Martin and wife, Jessi, Matthew Martin and wife, Ruth, Nicholas Martin, Sarah Sparks, Joshua Sparks, Seth Sparks, Rachael Sparks, and Abigail Payne; six great-grandchildren that brought such joy to him, Ethan, Cameron, Cadence, Devan, Ava, and Kaleb. Funeral services for James Leroy Payne, Sr. will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 11, 2010 at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell, VA with the Rev. Gordon McBride and the Rev. Ray Amos officiating. Entombment will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens Mausoleum in Bluefield, VA. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Christian, Carmel Deel, Greg Deel, Odell Deel, Jeff Hale, Rex Hale, and Kyle Hurt; the grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 – 9 p.m. Saturday, April 10, 2010. In lieu of flowers the family request memorial donations be made to Appalachian Teen Challenge: PO Box 980, Athens, WV 24712.

James Payne,

July 6, 1943 - April 7, 2010