David Leon Payne

     David Leon Payne, 81, of Ridgeland, SC passed away on Friday, January 21, 2022. David was born on May 15, 1940, the second child of long-time businessman William David Payne and wife Iva Lester Brooks Payne of Decherd, Tennessee. Mr. Payne was educated in Decherd and Winchester and earned his formal degree from Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

     Mr. Payne had two visions for his future, one in medicine and the other in education. The latter vision won out when his dad told him he would never have a family life in medicine. However, in the back of his mind that vision never died. Later he would become educated and certified in nursing care and health education, a career that would span decades. He did graduate studies at the University of South Carolina and Savannah State University.

     Mr. Payne’s contribution to many young minds would be realized many times when former students would tell him what an impact he had made on their lives. He was involved in public education as a principal, teacher, and department head which spanned 31 years. Twenty-three of those years were in the same county in Tennessee where he lived and received his foundation in education. The last eight were in Jasper County, South Carolina, where he lived the remainder of his life.

     It was in Ridgeland, South Carolina that Mr. Payne worked to promote several new educational programs at the local hospital. The "Storkmobile" program was a one-of-a kind program which offered transportation on a hospital van. While expectant mothers were being brought to the Low Country Hospital, Mr. Payne would teach expectant mothers via a closed-circuit television about such things as prenatal care, nutrition, health, and other programs that would benefit the newborns. He also linked up with the Medical University of South Carolina to promote programs that would benefit nurses, pharmacists and physicians through educational live tele-conferences from the Medical University. He also held clinics and outreach programs for the five Senior Citizens Centers on a monthly basis and offered support groups for Fibromyalgia, Diabetes, and heart disease. All these endeavors earned him the honor of “Employee of the Year” given by the Low Country General Hospital, and he was also nominated to the Who's Who in Professional Management of America. When the hospital was about to close, Mr. Payne went to work on a new program for Beaufort Memorial Hospital as Field Operations Specialist which offered a Mobile Wellness Program called The CHIPS program. This program was a first in this area and promoted a fully equipped Mobile Medical Unit. He offered educational programs and had staff that offered health and clinical programs for better health at scheduled places in a multi-county area.

     Mr. Payne was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Louise Bumgardner Payne.

     He is survived by his son, Kelly Payne, his daughter, Kendra Payne Belland and son-in-law, Eric Belland who were the most important and most rewarding part of his life; his sister, Billie Jean Payne Vincent, Ridgeland, SC; nephews, Gene Vincent and family of Ridgeland, SC and Jeff Vincent and family of Franklin County, TN; niece, Melissa Vincent of Oakwood, Georgia; several cousins, great nieces and nephews.

     A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm, Sunday, January 30, 2022, Ridgeland Cemetery, Ingram Street, Ridgeland, SC. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:30 pm until the hour of the service in the cemetery.

     In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Jasper Animal Rescue Mission (JARM) online at www.JARMission.org, or by mail to P.O. Box 1179, Ridgeland, SC  29936, or Maranatha Farm Animal Rescue 342 Crabapple Lane, Ridgeland, SC 29936.

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