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JOHN PAYNE Obituary
THE REV JOHN FRANCIS THORNTON PAYNE, O.S.A.
Suddenly, on Thursday, October 9, 2014. Father Payne was ordained an Augustinian Priest, November 18, 1989 at St. Augustine Parish, Washington, DC, the first African American priest ordained at the historic church. He served the parish as Associate Pastor until 1996. Father Payne began work at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in 1995, serving for almost 20 years. He was appointed Head of the School, August, 2014. Father Payne is survived by his loving mother, Gloria Payne; loving brothers, Anthony M. Payne, Michael V. Payne, Kenneth P. Payne; sister, Shirley M. Payne; devoted niece, Shelby Davis; Christopher Pearson and Jarrett Loftman; three nieces, 10 great-nieces and nephews; Augustinian Brothers and a host of relatives and friends. His father, Ellis A. Payne, is deceased. Wake will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2014 at St. Augustine Church, 15th and V Sts., NW, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Viewing will be held on Monday, October 20, 2014 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., and Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave., NE, Washington, DC. Memorial Mass and Burial to be held on Friday, October 24, 2014 at Villanova University Church, Villanova, PA. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to the Ellington Fund, 2001 10th St., NW, Washington, DC 20001 or online at http://www.ellingtonschool.org/ellington-fund/donate-now/, indicate gift in memory of Father Payne, or to The Augustinians, PO Box 340, Villanova, PA 19085.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for JOHN PAYNE
Martin Lange
October 11, 2024
I miss you John!!! Thanks for being yourself!
whitney parker
October 11, 2020
Father Payne, I have never met anyone like you. You inspired, comforted and pushed everyone to be the best they could be. I am so lucky to have known you. Rest peacefully
Rita Jackson
October 26, 2014
An Eternal Flame For You
Rita Jackson
October 21, 2014
An Eternal Flame For you.
Rita Jackson
October 21, 2014
Ft. Payne may God's Peace Be With You and With The Payne Family. You Baptized Me in 2005 And Will Live In My Heart Forever.
Carrie Hall
October 21, 2014
To the Payne family,From our W street community we all will always miss and cherish the memories and the service that was given to all of us. We thank you as a family for sharing him with us.You all will be forever in our prayers.
Theresa Smith
October 21, 2014
God has taken a good shepherd in heaven with him. Hearts are heavy today and they are still heavy. His passing was a shock to us, we never know when and how long that we are going to be on this earth. GOD had a plan for Rev Payne. He wanted him up there with him. Words cannot express the way I feel of his passing I just hope that these are words of comfort. To his family and his closest friends when you need some help to get through this sadness ask GOD for some he is the healer of the mind, body and soul. Just ask and just prayer. Rev. Payne is in the best hands that he can be in, he is in GOD'S hands. May peace be with the Payne family.
Theresa Smith
October 21, 2014
God has a good man up there with him. May he rest in peace. My heart and my prayers goes out to his family. Heavy hearts are still heavy as of today just ask GOD for some help when you need a little help so that can you get through this time of sadness. May God be with this family today and everyday.
C Wallace
October 21, 2014
It was comforting when I met Fr. John Payne serving at DESA, a public school. Then I knew my daughter was in good hands.
Lorraine Cooper
October 20, 2014
I remember the day Father John Payne was born,I brought him home from the hospital also when his mother dressed him in his Priestly Garments at St. Augustine Catholic Church.I was always happy to get a hug when he would see me. May God give him eternal rest from his labor. He is missed already.I pray for the family especially Gloria Payne his mother.
Martin Lange
October 20, 2014
John, thank you for being a great friend and a great person. I'll miss your smiles and laugh. Love, Martin.
October 20, 2014
Father Payne - I light this candle for you. May you rest in peace. You touched our life.
The Thomas- Nash Lewis family
Natalie Cooper & Son
October 20, 2014
Sending warm thoughts and blessings to Fr. John Payne's family and his extended school family . My thoughts and prayers were with the St Augustine family . Trust y'all "sang him to heaven" . Sorry I could not be there to celebrate his life with you all as planned. ( unplanned emergency :( Know that he will always be in our hearts - He was an extraordinary priest and his sermons will resonate forever. He will surely be missed! Love and Prayers.
Nichele Marchal
October 20, 2014
Sending prayers and comfort to the family and friends of Father Payne and to the Duke Ellington family. I pray that the memory of his life and all that he blessed will fill the sadness and bring joy in times that you find yourselves thinking of him. He was very kind and it blessed me when he would great the students as they entered the school. Rest in peace Father Payne. You will be greatly missed!
Gerald Irvin
October 20, 2014
We will miss your humor and honesty the most.
Matia Redfeather Ward-Armenta
October 20, 2014
I am deeply saddened and heartbroken about the passing of Father Payne. He was such an inspiration to myself and many others during his tenure at Ellington. He helped me to begin coming out of my shell at the 1996/1997 SY Sheparding Retreat. He will forever be loved and miss. May he rest in peace. Much love DESA c/o 2000.
Craig Johnson
October 19, 2014
The Johnson family sends our deepest condolences and prayers to the Payne family, the St. Augustine faith community, and the DESA family. We loved John so much as a member of our extended family. Though we are unable to attend the services in DC, please know that all four of us are there in spirit and that we continue to offer prayers through this difficult time!
Craig, Kaia-Joy, Raymond and Janice Johnson
Kelly Vonhoupe
October 19, 2014
I have only seen my grandson, Matias cry twice thus far in his lifetime, his father's death and now Father Payne ' s passing, to the family we send our condolences, he shall be missed by many. One extraordinary "Man"!
Michael Harper
October 19, 2014
A great man of God
Whitney Parker
October 18, 2014
Father Payne, I hope you know how much you are loved and how much you will be missed. I don't think Ellington will be the same without you. You had a way of making every student feel like they belonged. No matter what circumstances they came from or even how they behaved in school, you made everyone of us feel like Ellington was our home and that we could be ourselves. I wish I would have visited more. I'd give anything to see your smirk one more time. May you Rest peacefully.
Bridgette Stoutamire
October 18, 2014
My condolences to the Payne family. Celebrating a life well lived. Father Payne, may you rest in peace,as GOD has called you home.
October 18, 2014
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.
Laurice RedheaD
October 17, 2014
So many talk the talk, but he actually did it. He walked the walked and shared with so many how and the struggle in the fight to be a true Christian. Go in Peace
Suzanne Accordino
October 17, 2014
Father John Payne, your presence in this world shone a bright positive light, that will glow evermore. Godspeed wherever you may go....Suzanne
Ugochi Alozie Uche-Morris
October 17, 2014
My condolences to the Payne family. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Father Payne was a very charismatic orator and preacher at Saint Augustine Catholic Church in Washington, DC. His sermons and choir made the congregants look forward to going to church every sunday. He touched a lot of lives. May his soul rest in perfect and eternal peace. He will be missed.
Art Johnson
October 17, 2014
First, my condolences to the Payne Family, Fr. Payne, was a great person who will be truly missed.
Gigi Hart Bessicks
October 17, 2014
To the Payne Family, I pray for your comfort and peace for the loss of such a wonderful servant of God. Fr. Payne touched so many lives for the better and always did it with such enjoyment.
Rita(Saint Augustine)Usher Clark
October 17, 2014
To the Payne family I was so sadden to hear about the passing of Father Payne, he was the best. The Lord call him because he needed him to contune his duties in heaven rest in peace Father Payne we will miss you.
Fran Robertson
October 17, 2014
Fr. Payne, may you rest in eternal peace. To the Payne family, I send my love and condolences. Fr. Payne was a very special person and was loved greatly by all who knew him. You are in my prayers.
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