Kerford Lee Payne

Kerford Lee Payne, 98, passed away peacefully in Salisbury, MD on Friday, May 9, 2025. Kerford was born in Onancock, VA on January 29, 1927 to George and Lydia Barnes Payne. He had one sister, Geraldine Waddell.
He attended Onancock High School and Fork Union Military Academy and served in the US Coast Guard during World War II. He moved to Salisbury and after working for the Lance Company he started his own vending business, Kerf's Candy Company. The business served customers throughout the lower Eastern Shore over two decades.
As a younger man, Kerford was an accomplished duckpin bowler, softball pitcher, waterfowl hunter and decoy collector. In his later years he became an avid fisherman, and he spent many days on his boat with fishing buddies in the Chesapeake Bay.
In 1957 Kerford married the former Iris Beach and became stepfather to her daughter, Judy Beauchamp Powell. They had one daughter, Mary Lou. They lived happily together for 52 years until Iris' death in 2009.
Kerford was preceded in death by his parents, wife, sister and stepdaughter. He leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories with his daughter Mary Lou Kousouris (Steve), grandchildren Bryan Kousouris, Emma Kousouris Uyeno (Sam) and Kevin Powell, great grandson Bruno Uyeno, and nieces Bee Lee Tullos and Lydia Ferguson.
Services will be held on Monday, May 19 at 10am at the Holloway Funeral Home in Salisbury, MD. Visitation will be at 9am. Immediately following the service, he will be laid to rest beside his beloved Iris at Springhill Memory Gardens in Hebron, MD.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation via their website, www.cbf.org