Obituary of Vernon Weldon Payne

Manchester, Tennessee - Vernon Weldon Payne, 92, of Manchester, TN died on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.  He was born in Thrifty, TX on February 13, 1930 to Millard Vernon and Martha Jane Payne, and was married to Barbara Payne for 65  years.  He spent most of his childhood in Apex, AL and following employment in the Fairfield, AL steel mills, he served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. Traveling the world on the USS Daly and the USS Caperton, both destroyers, was a highlight of his life and is where he started a newspaper for the sailors, as he worked in the ship office, reporting to the commanding officer.  Following his military service, Weldon graduated with a B.A degree from the University of Alabama where he majored in journalism and fiction writing.  It was at Bama where he met and wed Barbara Bridges from MS who was then teaching at MS College.  Weldon was a licensed barber while attending the university.   Weldon was a gifted writer, artist, teacher, and newspaper man.  He worked for the Jackson Daily News in MS, Nashville Banner, Huntsville Times,  Associated Press in Birmingham, AL, and Tullahoma News.  Beginning in 1962, he served as editor and publisher of the Manchester Times for 17 years.  For over ten years, he taught numerous courses at Motlow Community College and finished his career in Public Relations and Communications for University of Tennessee Space Institute. It was here that he wrote the published history of UTSI’s first 25 years. Beginning in college and spanning over 55 years, Weldon wrote a weekly column, Through the Pane, in local and Southeastern newspapers with wide ranging topics including ordinary life experiences and reactions to daily events.  He published several works of fiction and collections of columns and stories, including  A Taste of Time. His stone carvings have been exhibited at the Parthenon Museum in Nashville, TN as well as other venues. Mr. Payne enjoyed quail hunting dogs, fishing, good literature, water color, oils, and pastel painting, stone carving, plays, sunsets and he loved his family.  He was a member of First Baptist Church, Manchester.    Weldon is survived by his wife, Barbara, and three children and their spouses:  Chris and Cherry Payne, Gainesville, FL; Scott and Valerie Payne, Goodlettsville, TN, and Jill and Hunt Dunlap, Macomb, IL.  Weldon and Barbara have eight grandchildren, Caroline Purvis (DeWayne), Alex Payne (Staci), Kaitlin Maple (Conner), Oliver Payne (Savannah), Charlotte Payne, Elliot Payne, Laura Dunlap, and Sarah Dunlap.  There are ten great-grandchildren, Claire Payne, Kennedy Purvis, Harper Payne, Nathaniel Payne, Grant Purvis, Hayden Maple, Isaac Payne, Ivan Payne, Carter Purvis, Quinn Maple.  Weldon has one sister, Dr. Doris Carney, Manchester.  His parents Millard and Martha Payne and two other sisters, Ione and Pauline and his two brothers Talmadge and Buddy are deceased, as well as a great- grandson, Jackson Purvis.   Visitation with the family will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022, from 12noon until 2:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral services will be conducted immediately following visitation at 2:00pm with Dr. Brenton Cox officiating. Burial will follow at Concord Cemetery in Tullahoma, TN. Donations to Alzheimer’s TN (South Central TN Office, 309 N. Jackson Street, Tullahoma, TN 37388) are appreciated.  Donations can also be made to First Baptist Church, Manchester, TN.