Janet Elizabeth Payne

Janet (Jan) Elizabeth Payne, age 81, of Lakeland, FL, passed away peacefully on February 10th, 2026. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, February 26th at 2 pm, at Heritage United Methodist Church in Clearwater, FL. The family requests for attendees to not wear black.

Jan was born on November 7, 1944 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and lived in her childhood town of Scituate where she developed an affinity for lighthouses. She spoke of many fond memories of spending time with her grandmother, Helen Finnie, who lived nearby, picking up sea shells on the beach. Following graduation from Framingham State University, she married the love of her life, Larry Payne. Several years later, they moved to Oldsmar, FL, and joined Heritage United Methodist Church. Over the years while raising three sons (Mike, Brian, and Matt), Jan taught kindergarten and first grade at a number of schools including Tarpon Springs Elementary and Westlake Christian School in Palm Harbor, FL. In 2010, they moved to College Station, TX, to be closer to some family. She moved back to Florida in 2022.

Jan was a very dedicated teacher, planning crafts, songs, and dress-up for all holidays and occasions. She loved to talk about the various field trips she took with her students and their parents over the years. When she wasn’t teaching, Jan enjoyed the beach, warm weather, music, animals, flowers, and children. She also embraced singing along at church, going to the zoo or aquarium, Disney World, and spending time with all of her grandchildren. Jan took advantage of any opportunities to visit lighthouses, collecting small versions of them, as well as pineapples for her kitchen.

During retirement, Jan and Larry traveled to places in Texas and beyond, including Hawaii, the United Kingdom, various countries in the Caribbean, the Colorado Rockies, and Yellowstone National Park. While in College Station, Jan enjoyed ushering at Texas A&M University sporting events. She especially enjoyed getting to know the athletes and their parents. She cherished the many friendships she developed through Sunday school, Bible study with the “Turtles,” and members of Christ United Methodist Church in College Station, TX. Jan continued to connect with students by volunteering to help students practice reading and cultivated butterfly gardens at Greens Prairie Elementary in College Station, TX.

Jan is proceeded in death by her parents Arthur and Jean Finnie, brother Bill Finnie, and husband Larry Payne. She is survived by her sons Michael (Diane) Payne of Stokesdale, NC, Brian (Stephanie) Payne of College Station, TX; Matthew Payne (Juliana Curtis) of Lakeland, FL; her sister Dottie (Jack) Leach of Scituate, MA; nephew Jay Leach of Scituate, MA; brother-in-law Robert “Bob” (Janet) Payne of Groveland, FL; her grandchildren (Ashly [Ryan] Haidinger, Rebecca [Logan] Pearman, Aubree Payne [Alex Lee], Ashlynn [Javier] Mendoza, Kay [Will] Orlando, Ethan Payne, Ally Payne, Danielle Payne, Steven Payne, Talia [Julian] Smith, Ava Curtis, Mia Curtis); and great grandchildren (Nikaya Smith, Chenoah Smith, and Kylie Pearman).

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.