Benjamin Payne died Oct. 7, 2012 at Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery.

Payne was born the 11^th child of the late Herman Payne Sr. and Ruby Voncile Payne of Greenville. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and became a member of the New Bethel Christian Church in Greenville where he diligently worked as an usher and choir member and later confessed his call into the gospel ministry. He was a 1976 graduate of Greenville High School where he was a well-known percussionist.

After graduation, he enlisted in the armed services to help with the fight to ensure our nation’s freedom. Upon his return from serving our nation, he decided to further his education at LBW Community College where he pursued his passion in auto mechanics. He was employed at several businesses that allowed him to showcase his talents, including the Greenville Advocate as a deliveryman, the Hillview Nursing Facility as a nursing assistant and BJ’s Auto Sales as a mechanic.

He was preceded in death by his mother Ruby Voncile Payne; his father Herman Payne Sr.; three brothers, Willie George, Keith Curtis and Robert Earl; and one sister, Mattie Pearl Payne Rouse.

He is survived by three daughters, Janee (Brandon) Hamilton of Wetumpka, Ala., Chasity (Anthony) Morgan or Luverne, Ala., and Sidney Taylor of Greenville; one son, Brett Taylor of Greenville; Two grandsons, Kellen and Jamell; three sisters, Mildred (Roy) Brooks of Miami, Fla., Florence (Percy) Simpson of Greenville, and Irene Davis of Detroit, Mich.;stepmother Gertrude Fails-Payne of Greenville; five brothers, Herman Payne Jr. (Mary) of Miami, Fla., Jimmie Lane of Greenville, Ezza Payne (Elois) of Montgomery, Alfred Payne of Greenville, and Henry Clay (Debbie) of Greenville; caregiver, Blanche Howard; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Oct. 10 at New Bethel Christian Church.