Georgia Lee Payne

Georgia Lee (Barnes) Payne, 94, died June 28, 2024, at her home in Bolivar. She was born November 23, 1929. to G. Sheldon and Dorothy Lee Barnes in Kansas City, Missouri. When she was four years old, she and her family moved to Manila Philippine Islands where they resided eleven years. During WWII the entire family became prisoners of the Japanese and were held in Santo Tomas Internment Camp for three years. They were liberated in February 1945 and returned to Kansas City. In 1946, Georgia came to live with a great aunt and uncle, Viola and W.R. Rubelee in Polk, Missouri. She attended Bolivar High School for her senior year and married fellow classmate, Gervais Payne, soon after graduation on May 23, 1947. To this union were born two sons: Lendon Gervais and David Allen Payne. In her early married life, Georgia was saved and joined Mt. View Missionary Baptist Church in Polk. In 2011, she became a member of Southside Missionary Baptist Church where she enjoyed services until her health no longer permitted her to attend. Georgia and her husband lived in many different places during their marriage including Polk; Santa Paula, California; Tulsa Oklahoma; Denver, Colorado, and Kansas City, Missouri. In 1984, they moved back to the family farm in Polk where they had begun their marriage. In 2004, they moved to a home in Bolivar, Missouri. At the age of 34, Georgia resumed her education and received a BA from the University of Missouri Kansas City in 1969. She worked as Assistant Librarian in the North Kansas City School District until health problems forced her to retire in 1975. During her lifetime, Georgia enjoyed a number of hobbies including knitting, crocheting, quilting and sewing. She also enjoyed researching her Indian heritage. In her later years, she was the author of three published books. Georgia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 72 years, Gervais, and siblings, Carole Collins, Pete, and Tom Barnes. She is survived by sons, Lendon, and wife Marja-Liisa of St. Louis and David and wife Ann of Polk; two grandchildren, Nicole and Thomas Pettersson of Stolkholm, Sweden and Regin and wife Jenny Payne of Los Angeles, California; seven great-grandchildren, Amanda, Alexandra, and Andreas Pettersson, Samuel, Elias, Julia, and Emily Payne. Also surviving are two sisters-in-law, Bobbie Barnes and MaryJane Elliott, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many other friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Payne Cemetery in Polk, Missouri or to the Smile Train. Donations may be made here https://www.smiletrain.org/ Services for Georgia will be held Sunday, July 7, 2024 at 2:30 PM at the Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the time of service starting at 1:30 PM. Interment will follow immediately after at the Payne Cemetery in Polk, Missouri.

Georgia Lee Payne

November 23, 1929 - June 28, 2024