John Lovince Payne

John Lovince Payne, a faithful servant, died with his sister at his bedside at Harbor Hospital September 12, 2019. He was the seventh child born on the eleventh day in the eleventh month of 1949 highly favor by Christ Jesus, to his loving parents Abria Jolivet Payne and Lawrence Payne Sr. of Beaumont, Texas. He lived nearly all his life in the Beaumont community where he was Baptized in the Catholic faith, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, where he served as an altar boy. John attended the public schools of Beaumont, Texas and graduated in 1968 from Charlton-Pollard High School.

John served two years in the United States Army, was injured during the Vietnam War and received an Honorable Discharge. After returning home from Vietnam, John tried to work some with his dad as a carpenter and his brother Sylvester at a mechanics and auto body repair shop. John was always giving himself to help others in some way or another, but the war of the sixties hindered John of being the independent person he was. He was a very quiet person not bothering a soul, just at war with himself trying to fit in.

Later in his adult life, he came to enjoy the fellowship at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica with his sister, sitting to the front of the church in the wheelchair area. When the gospel was being read John would always stand even thought he couldn't. He would hold on to the pew until the end of the reading and refuse any help because, that was John being John before the war. John looked forward to his sister picking him up on Sundays to go to mass, dressed in a suit, neck tie and his Stacey Adam never in jeans. He would say "I'm not going until I have my suit and my Stacey Adam," shining brightly. He loved his church family and they loved and looked out for him as well.

He had a passion for playing dominos with his close friend Mr. Peter Byrd who is a hundred and two years young. Mr. Byrd would travel to Houston, Texas and play dominos for two to three hours every week when the weather permitted. John was a good son, brother, uncle and friend throughout his life.

John is preceded in death by his mother, father; sister Betty Jo Denson; brothers Lawrence Jr. and Lloyd Payne; nephews Charles Payne, Walter Lamount Roy; and brother-in-law Joseph Lee Victorian.

He leaves to celebrate his eternal address: sisters; Mary Payne, Ruby Welch, Theresa Horn (Isaac), Hazel Smith, Edna Morris, Loretta Victorian all of Beaumont, Texas, and Lucinda Rowe (Russell) of Inglewood, CA., brother, Sylvester “Shorty” Payne (Sarah), aunt Cecelia Woods of Beaumont, Texas, and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

We would like to express our thanks in a very big way to Mrs. Bean who cared for him for over five years in Beaumont, Texas; Mrs. Love of Fresno, Texas, and Mrs. Arthur, Vincent, Ms. Wunie, and Ms. Blanca who could get John to be kind. When thing weren’t so great for him. The doctors and nurses at the VA Hospital in Houston, Texas, as well as the Beaumont VA Clinic (Dr. Stovall). John thought Dr. Stovall could fix anything. Jefferson Nursing and Rehabilitation facility, and Memorial Herman Baptist Hospital. Last but not least the staff at Harbor Hospice who were so patient with John as well as his sister Loretta throughout the very end.

A celebration of John's life will be September 28, 2019 at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica at 10:00am.

Amen