Bernard Dale Payne

Bernard Dale Payne, Sr., age 81, of Dalton, Georgia, passed away on March 12, 2026. He had been a resident of the area for over 30 years.

Bernard was a man who truly enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. He loved being outdoors, playing his harmonica, and, most of all, spending time with his family. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, and working on cars. He also had a deep passion for preaching. Bernard was known for being old-fashioned, tough, and sometimes stubborn, but above all, he had a strong love for his family and friends. He will be remembered as a devoted father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 25 years, Nina Payne; his father, Clifford Payne; his mother, Nellie Payne; and his sister, Carol.

Those left to cherish his memory include his brother, Everett Payne; his children, Patty (Eddie) Bishop, Michael Payne, Bernard Payne, Jr. (Christy), Teresa Payne, Clifford Payne, and Josephine Payne; and his grandchildren, Chris Bishop, Josh Bishop, Tawana (Zach) Faulknor, Faith Clem, Julius Payne, Chanda Payne, Sarah Mains, Jada Blackwell, Zechariah (Jasmine) Payne, Timothy Payne, Leloni Payne, and Michael Payne, Jr. He is also survived by several great-grandchildren, along with many extended family members and friends.

The family will receive friends on Monday, March 23, 2026, from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM, with a funeral service to follow at 5:00 PM at Companion Funeral Home Ridge Chapel, located at 2412 Georgetown Road NW, Cleveland, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made directly to Companion Funeral Home to help with the funeral services.