Emily Anne Payne

Emily Anne Payne died peacefully on Monday, August 22, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. The goodness of her heart, so filled with kindness and compassion, was a radiant light to all who knew her. She is an everlasting inspiration.

Emily’s legacy of love was given fully to her precious daughter, Grace. Their enduring and eternal bond was forged in every facet of their life together, including worship, reading, painting, cooking, museum visits, concerts, shopping, and playing. Visits to their favorite ice cream shop and spontaneous singing and dancing together, punctuated by boisterous laughter, are cherished memories. Most important to Emily as Grace’s mother, however, was instilling the values of their shared Christian faith.

Those same Christian values were taught to Emily as a child, and her life mirrored them throughout her childhood and youth in choirs, acolyte service, and youth group leadership roles at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta – all experiences preparing her for service to her church and faith as an adult. A member of All Saints’ Parish since her student days at UCLA, Emily’s service included singing in the choir for over twenty years, refugee ministry, leading small groups, pastoral care visitation, Alpha, and recently joining the building and grounds committee, women’s affinity group, and commission on children, youth, and family.

Born and reared in Atlanta, Georgia, Emily completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at UCLA in 1997 and her Master of Music degree in cello performance at the Yale University School of Music in 1999. Emily also earned the California Professional Multiple Subject Credential, K-12. Her gifts of intellect and talent were extraordinary, and she nurtured them with care and curiosity.

A love of the arts, books, fashion, and cooking became evident early in her life. She was a student of ballet, piano, cello, and voice. Whether the youthful joy of playing cello in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, participating in a master class with YoYo Ma, or recording with the Yale Cellos or the All Saints’ Choir, Beverly Hills, Emily’s musical voice always soared with beauty.

As a dedicated teacher, she possessed the exceptional ability to engage a class while connecting especially with students who needed additional guidance. Emily was a trusted advocate for children and parents with marginalized voices. Because of Emily’s unassailable integrity, leadership roles such as Grade Level co-chair at Liggett Street Elementary, Interim Children’s Education Coordinator at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, and President of the Kappa Delta Advisory Board were given to her.

The 2017 recipient of Kappa Delta sorority’s “Order of the Pearl” also reflects Emily’s lifelong commitment to community engagement. Other volunteer ventures included service at the Maggy Haves School, Children’s Community School, the UCLA Medical Center Neuroscience Unit, and the Yale School of Music alumni/Ventures Committee.

Emily is survived by her daughter, Grace, of Los Angeles; parents Serena and Robert Blocker of Clinton, CT; Lynne and Cleve Payne of Marietta, GA; brother Alan (Meg) of Denver, CO; and many other family members and friends. Memorial gifts may be made to the music ministry of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills, CA; Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta, GA; and the School of Music, Yale University, New Haven, CT.