Mable Owens Payne

As soft as a whisper, Mable Owens Payne departed this life to journey into her eternal home on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. Her transition was just as she lived her life, in quietness, gentleness and peace. Mable was the second child born to the late William Milton and Mamie Collins Owens on October 10, 1922 in Columbia. North Carolina. She graduated valedictorian of her class but not being financially able to attend college, she traveled to New York to seek employment to help her family. In the early 1940s, Mable came to settle in Baltimore, Maryland and seek employment at Edgewood Arsenal during World War II where she met and married the love of her life, Charlie Henry Payne on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1944. Mable and Charlie were married sixty-six loving years, and from this union were born four children: Deborah, Charlie, Martha and David. Mable was like a second mother to so many including her younger siblings. As her brothers and sisters graduated from school, each made their way to Mable’s home in Baltimore where she cared for and supported them. All of her siblings lovingly referred to her as “Sister”. She was truly the matriarch of the family. This caring nature also extended to children in her neighborhood, church workplace. She impacted the lives of so many with her pleasant nature, gentle spirit and loving kindness. It was her nature to feed your spirit and your stomach. You never left her home with an empty stomach or without an extra plate. After her youngest child entered school, Mable was employed in the Baltimore City Public Schools as a teacher’s assistant and retired after fifteen years to care for her mother. Mable attended Chapel Hill Missionary Baptist Church and received the Lord at an early age. In Baltimore she sought a deeper relationship with God and joined Rehoboth Church of god In Christ, under the leadership of Bishop Randolph A. Carr. Later, she was led to join the Fist United Church of Jesus Christ, Apostolic, under the leadership of Bishop Monroe R. Saunders, Sr. In recent years, she was a faithful member of Christ Temple Holiness Church, under the leadership of Pastor Bessie L. Spence until she was no longer able to attend. To know Mable was to know the meaning of true love and generosity. She had a way of making everyone feel at ease in her presence. Her beautiful smile could light up a room and bring warmth of her smile will forever remain in our hearts. Mable was truly a reflection of God’s love. She leaves to mourn: her four children, Deborah (husband Alvin) Mullen, Charlie R., Martha Scarborough and David J. all of Baltimore, MD; two sisters, Reatha Johnson and Thelma Scott of Baltimore, MD; three brothers, Wallace (wife Lois) Owens, Moses (wife Annie) Owens of Fayetteville, NC and Charlie (wife Olivia) Owens of Baltimore, MD; (her brothers, Roy Owens, Robert Owens and Willie Owens preceded her in death); loving grandchildren, Alvin Ray (wife Nakia) Mullen, Dorlisa (husband Willie) Mitchell III, Nya (husband Anton) Word, Scott (wife Terri) Payne and Charlie (wife Tammy) Payne; fifteen great-grandchildren, Dora, Diarra, Deniah and Waylan Mitchell, Chazanika and Kennedy Shaw, Kendall, Raigan and Miles Mullen (Mariah Mullen preceded her in death); Camryn, Corryn, Chauncey and Ciar Word, Jacksen and Charlie Wade Payne; one great-great-grandson, Chance Mason Shaw; three sisters-in-law, Lousie Payne, Juanita Jackson and Matilda (husband Clarence) Callehan; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

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Mable Owens Payne

October 10, 1922 - February 18, 2012