Dorothy Louise Payne-Abernathy

Dorothy Louise Pierce Payne-Abernathy was born on March 3, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Lawrence and Elizabeth Pierce. Dorothy grew up and attended school in Chester, PA. Dorothy was baptized on March 28, 1937 at Campbell A.M.E. Church in Media, PA. Later in life, she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior. She then became a faithful member of the first Pentecostal Holy Church in Chester, PA and was baptized. She was an active member there until she moved to Texas in 1995.

In 2012, she would later receive her GED in Texas. Dorothy was passionate about children and spent her career as a Childcare Assistant. She received a “Certificate of Appreciation for the Valuable Contribution Given to Children” on March 30, 1996 at La Petite Academy in Fort Worth, TX.

Dorothy loved bowling, playing Bingo, music, singing, cooking and spending time with her family.

Dorothy passed away on June 16, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. She is preceded in death by husbands James J. Payne and George C. Abernathy; parents Lawrence Pierce and Elizabeth Pierce Jackson; and brother Lawrence Pierce.

Dorothy leaves to cherish her precious memory: children Audrey Payne Johnson (Gregory) of Fort Worth, TX, and James Payne of Brookhaven, PA; siblings Helen Bowen, Carroll Pierce (Rosabelle), and sister-in-law Verna Pierce; grandchildren Janine Johnson West (Anthony) of Fort Worth, TX, Danita S. Jones of New Castle, DE, Jeremy Johnson (Monique) of Fort Worth, TX, Javette L. Stone (Lance) of Brookhaven, PA, Javonne L. Hickson (DeQuan) of Upland PA, and Jeray Taylor of Chester, PA; 7 great granddaughters and 11 great grandsons; 2 great great-granddaughters and 4 great great-grandsons. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, godchildren and many friends.