Leona Payne

Leona Payne, 83, a long-time Westville resident, passed away in peace at the home of her family in Mooresville, Alabama, on Wednesday, November 11, at 1:20pm. Leona was born on August 12, 1926, in Westville, the daughter of John and Elvira (Giuliani) Cooke. On May 17, 1946, she married James R. Payne, who preceded her in death in 1975. Survivors include: her son, James (Nancy), and her beloved granddaughters, Margaret Leonora and Madeleine Grace, all of Mooresville, Alabama; her dear sister, Louise, of Decatur; her brothers, John (Charlotte), of Danville, Alexander (Evelyn), of Athens, Alabama, and Louis, of Westville; eight nieces and nephews; and a very special friend, Sherri (Phillip) Parrish, of Metamora. Leona graduated from Westville High School in 1944 and worked as an operator for Illinois Bell Telephone Company from 1944 through 1981, a job which she loved. She had been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Westville. Visitation will be at 10:00am Monday, November 16, with funeral following at 11:00am, at Sunset-Urbas Chapel in Westville. Fr. Geoffrey Scanlon will officiate. Interment will be in Georgetown Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com