Hortense Anderson Payne

Hortense Anderson Payne of Toccoa passed away on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, just five days after her 92nd birthday.

Born in Habersham County, Georgia on January 23, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Knox & Katie (Turpen) Anderson. As a teenager, she joined two of her older sisters, Jennie Sue and Fannie, and formed the group “The Harmonettes”. They sang together until the early 50’s throughout Northeast Georgia. On May 24, 1947, she married the love of her life, Dallas Payne, and they were married for 56 years before his passing. She was a lifelong member of Antioch Baptist church where her and Dallas were faithful servants. They often worked with the youth, VBS, and anywhere else there was a need. She also taught Sunday School for more than 50 years and was the church secretary from 1989-2007. Mrs. Payne was also the owner/operator of Hortense’s Beauty Shop for over 40 years. Faith and family meant everything to her and Dallas and they instilled that in their children and grandchildren who cherished them as much as they were cherished.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceeded in death by her siblings, Jennie Sue Anderson Yearwood, J. D. Anderson, Fannie Kate Anderson Edmonds, Mary Belle Anderson Finley, Helen Anderson Purcell, and Tommie Joyce Anderson and she was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

Surviving are daughter and son-in-law, Janice & Ron Craven of Cleveland; son and daughter-in-law, Mark & Kristi Payne of Toccoa; grandchildren, Adam & Sarah Payne of Hickory, NC, Ben & Amber Payne of Clarkesville, John Craven of Cleveland, Hannah & Freddie Walker of Athens, Amy & Steven Crawford of Cleveland, Sydnee Payne of Toccoa, and Bevan Schmidt of Toccoa; and great grandchildren, Kelsie, Stella, Judah & Gemma Payne of Clarkesville, Knox Payne of Hickory, NC, and Owen Crawford of Cleveland. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Funeral services are scheduled for 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at Antioch Baptist Church with The Reverend David Harbin and Pastor Tony Yang officiating with interment to follow in the Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Acree-Davis Funeral Home.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.acree-davisfh.com.

The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Keith Canup, Tim Canup, David Irvin, Kenneth Ivester, Greg Morrow, and Michael Whiten. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandsons as well as nephews, Malcolm Yearwood, Boyce Purcell, Mackie Finley, Milton Finley, Jackie Finley, and Anderson Edmonds.

Flowers are optional or memorials may be made to Refuge Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 923, Clarkesville, GA 30523 or Cleveland Worship Center Building Fund, PO Box 667, Cleveland, GA 30528.

Acree-Davis Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Hortense Anderson Payne.