STELLA VIRGINIA WATKINS PAYNE GILL

Stella Virginia Watkins Payne Gill was born December 29, 1930 at Micola, Missouri. She was the daughter of Bayard Schindel Watkins and Pearl Camp Watkins.

She departed this life at the St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee on December 21, 2017 at the age of 86.

On November 11, 1948 she was united in marriage to Frank Howard “Hap” Payne. They were the proud parents of three daughters.

Hap was a preacher and she loved being the preacher’s wife. She ministered along with him to all of the congregation and the community. She loved “making a joyful noise: to the Lord although some thought her singing wasn’t very good.

Stella was always a very busy lady. She loved life, loved laughing, and loved friends and especially family. She was a wonderful “Gee Gee”to grandkids and great-grandkids. She could be found almost every day at the Caruthersville Nutrition Site eating and visiting with friends. She also led an exercise group twice a week.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bayard and Pearl Watkins, husband “Hap” Payne, her second husband, Roy Gill, her brothers, Charlie Watkins, Bayard Watkins, Jr., Billy Watkins, Ralph Watkins, and a sister, Donna Kay, and a half brother, John Albert Watkins.

She is survived by three daughters, Sherry Hays and her husband, Larry of Caruthersville, Sheila Smith and her husband, David of Kennett, Shelly Main and her husband, Jeff of Evansville, IN, one sister, Ida Criswell of Haines City, FL, one half-sister, Betty Kathleen Deweese, one brother, Alvin Watkins of Henderson, TN, two half-brothers, Danny Michael Watkins, Bayard Shendell Watkins, five grandchildren, Jerry Don Hays, Tonya Gunnels, Stacy McNew, Kristen Mojica, Nic Main, and seven great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

Funeral services were held Saturday, December 23, 2017 at the Temple Baptist Church with Brother Jim Pilcher officiating. Interment followed in Maple Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Christian Gunnels, Brian Gunnels, Nic Main, Jerry Don Hays, Charlie Jones, Tommy Halford, Jeff Hudgens, Daimon NcNew, and Drake McNew.

H.S. Smith Funeral Home in charge of services.