Barney William Payne

Barney William Payne was the second of three sons of the late Leonard and Mattie Payne and was born on January 20, 1928 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. During his primary years his family moved often which made it hard for him to establish close, long-term friendships. He attended several elementary and senior high schools. He belonged to the local Boy Scout troop that sold newspapers in December 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. In October of 1943 his parents separated and he and his brothers drove with their mother and her sister from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Victorville, California. He attended San Bernardino High School where he met his future wife, Theda Wood. They graduated in 1946 and he joined the US Navy. Barney and Theda were married in 1951 and were together for 59 years until she preceded him in death in 2010. Barney served in the Navy for almost 10 years and then settled in San Bernardino to start their family. The family moved to Lemon Grove in 1969 when Barney was transferred from Kaiser Hospital in Fontana, to what was then the new Kaiser facility in La Mesa, California. He worked as a Medical Records Supervisor and as a Heath Care Administrator for over 30 years. During these years he was an avid bowler and participated on a league team called the Ebony Elite with some of his friends and colleagues. He also was an active member of the California Black Health Network. He accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age. The family joined Calvary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. S.M. Lockridge. He briefly served on the Scholarship Committee during the leadership of the late Rev. W.J. Smith. He attended regularly with the family until his health made it increasingly difficult to participate in services. He will be remembered for his quick wit and unique sense of humor; his writing and proofreading skills; and his proper use of what he and his mother referred to as “The King’s English”. These skills were taught to his children and grandchildren. Barney Payne departed this life quietly on November 30, 2016. He leaves to cherish his memory daughter and son-in-law, Rubi and Melvee Pottinger of San Diego, son Romel Payne of Michigan; brother-in-law Job Wood of Connecticut; sister-in-law Sylvia Payne of Washington; 6 grandchildren; Alana Boatman, Toni Pottinger, Rene, Tyler, Jovanni and Jaxen Payne; 11 nephews and nieces: Timothy Haywood Jr. and Stephen (Viola) Haywood of San Diego, Michael, Alan, Charlotte, Ross Jr. (Heather) and Monte Payne of Washington; Karla (Vincent) Hatter of Illinois; Jay, Guy and Alison Wood of Connecticut; 11 grand nieces and nephews; 2 great-grand children;  and many other relatives and many other relatives and friends.