Sandra Lee Payne

Sandra "Sandy" Lee (Brosdal) Payne, 73 of Leonardtown, MD passed away peacefully on November 30, 2024, at MedStar St. Mary's Hospital in Leonardtown, Maryland with her daughters, a granddaughter and husband at her bedside after courageously battling several health issues for many years, most recently cancer.
Sandy was born on June 8, 1951, in Mineola, NY to the late Kenneth Brosdal (a Pan American Airways captain), and Marjorie (Larson) Brosdal. She graduated from Northport High School in Northport, NY in 1969, where she sang in the chorus along with Patti LuPone. She went on to obtain a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Dowling College and a master's degree from Adelphi University. She took her first teaching job in Jacksonville, Florida where she met a young Navy sailor, Mike Payne. She married her loving husband, Michael Payne, on May 6, 1978. They spent over 46 wonderful years together. Together they lived in various locations throughout the US including Virginia Beach, VA, where Lee was born in Norfolk; Layton, UT where Margo was born; Lexington Park, MD; San Diego, CA; then returning to Maryland where they lived in Leonardtown (Breton Bay) for the past 36 years.
Sandy was a Special Education Elementary School teacher with St. Mary's County Public Schools for 20 years, teaching at Green Holly and White Marsh elementary schools before retiring in 2007. She had a big heart for working with children, particularly those with special needs. She enjoyed gardening and photography; she maintained the most beautiful flower gardens around her home and was Treasurer of the Society Hill Garden Club of Breton Bay. She was a mentor to many young ladies as a Girl Scout Leader for 10 years. She had a deep love for all animals and was a mom to many rescue animals over the years including dogs, cats, and even mice. One of her favorite hobbies was feeding the birds, deer, squirrels and other wildlife that visited her daily.
Sandy loved her family and loved to visit them as much as her health would allow. She cherished her visits to Sand Lake and Duluth, Minnesota and Long Island, New York to visit her family.
Sandy is survived by her husband Leonardtown Lion Mike (Command Master Chief, U.S. Navy Reserve Retired); daughter Lee (Greg, Captain, U.S. Navy) Machi and their children Adam and Lena of California, MD; daughter Margo (Patrick) O'Rear of California, MD and their children Jon, Kyle, Lillian, Annika, Brynna and Braden; step-son Michael (Tami) Payne, Jr. of Pflugerville, TX and their children and grandchildren Stephanie, Christopher, Samantha, Troy, Claire, Michael III, Alivia, Avery, and Aria; her brothers Charles (Mary Lou) Brosdal of Nissequogue, NY and Gordon Brosdal of Miller Place, NY; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her sister Frances Larkin.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:00 p.m., at Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Interment will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. at Northport Rural Cemetery, 23 Sandy Hollow Road, Northport, NY 11768.
Memorial contributions may be made to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, bestfriends.org, Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Lustgarten.org, St. Joseph's Indian School, Stjo.org, or St. Labre Indian School, Stlabre.org.
Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A.