Resident of Watsonville

James Richard Payne (”Jim”) passed away, at 72, after a devastating stroke.

Jim was born in Greenville, South Carolina, and grew up in Wheaton, IL as the fourth son of Dr. J. Barton and Dorothy Payne. Wheaton was a great place to raise children, but Jim grew up in the shadow of three older brothers and a little sister who excelled at many things. Despite educational challenges, Jim proudly graduated from high school. After graduation, further education was difficult, and work was hard to find.

Jim’s dad, Barton Payne, died suddenly in 1979, and Dorothy moved to the family cabin in Mount Hermon, CA with Jim. In 1986, she married James Wood. With his stepdad’s assistance, Jim found a job at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and worked there for nineteen years. He was known for his quiet, friendly kindness to everyone. Being a Boardwalk employee gave him a sense of identity that was very important to him.

In the end, Jim’s disabilities became too strong for him to work effectively. However, he qualified for Social Security disability and the San Andreas Regional Center’s program. It was a blessing when he became a resident of the Crossroads group home in Watsonville, run with amazing skill and compassion by Daniel and Jen Sanchez. For thirteen years, Jim thrived in an environment surrounded by other special needs people. Everyone valued his gentle flexibility. Daniel found that Jim was the perfect roommate for the newcomers because he made these new men feel comfortable and accepted. Jim had only kind things to say about his roommates.

The Crossroads program encouraged all the residents to work on weekdays through Hope Services. This allowed Jim to regain some of the self-esteem he enjoyed at the Boardwalk.

On weekends, Jim loved to be with family so that he could regularly attend the Felton Bible Church with his parents, a connection with the church that continued unchanged after his stepdad, James Wood, died in 2018. This, along with a lifetime of family devotions helped Jim solidify his personal relationship with Jesus.

On the day of Jim’s death, the devastating nature of Jim’s stroke helped his family recognize God’s mercy in taking him from a happy, productive life directly to his heavenly home. So, we praise God through our tears.

Jim is survived by his mother, Dorothy Payne Wood, his brother John Payne (Madelle) of Felton, brother Philip Payne (Nancy) of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, brother Peter Payne (Janet) of Mount Hermon, CA, and sister Patty Payne Clendenin (Dan) of San Diego. He is also survived by stepbrothers Paul Wood (Sherri) of Fremont and Peter Wood (Martha) of San Jose, and by nineteen nephews and nieces and their families.

A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, June 24th at 11:00 AM at Felton Bible Church, 5999 Graham Hill Road, Felton CA.

Memorial gifts may be given to support Mount Hermon. You may give online or send a check using the information below. Gifts will be used to assist those who do not have the financial ability to attend camp.

Online: mounthermon.org/give
Check: Mount Hermon Association
PO Box 413, Mount Hermon, CA 95041
Memo: Camperships/In Memory of Jim Payne