Montyne Brock Payne

Montyne Brock Payne, wife of the late Dr. W. Marlin Payne and former Chattooga County resident, passed away in Rome, Georgia May 26, 2021 at the age of 94. Mrs. Payne was the daughter of the late Thomas Dow Brock and Ethel Little Brock and was born in LaFayette, Georgia. She spent her early years in LaFayette. She and her mother moved to Rome to live with relatives in 1939 following a house fire which destroyed their home. After graduating from Rome Girls High School in 1944, she was able to attend Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, Tennessee. Following her graduation there, she taught in the Rome school system.

She met her husband, of nearly 72 years, when she was 15 and he was 18. Shortly after that, he entered the Army Air Corps. When the war was over, they married on June 22, 1947 and moved to Memphis while he finished school. Their first child, Jon, was born in Memphis. After her husband’s graduation, the family moved to Rome and stayed with relatives while her husband commuted to Summerville, opening his optometric practice.

Together they raised three children: Probate Judge Jonathan Marlin Payne, Marla Brock Payne Wise (Darrell), and Thomas David (Tommy) Payne (Sue). She adored her grandchildren: Patrick Payne, Chase Payne (Brandee), and Marlie Payne, Marisa Wise Parmer (Nathan), Darik Wise (Katie), Amy Payne Clifton (Chad), and Christopher Payne (Ashley). Her beloved great-grandchildren are Madalyn, Audrey, and Jake Clifton, Laney and Logan Payne, Harper Payne, Addison and Reece Wise, and Elise Parmer. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Mrs. Betty Crotty and Mrs. Ann Williams, special cousin, Sammie Frye Dobson, and many much-loved nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Probate Judge Jon M. Payne, sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Jimmy Carroll, her brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Mary Lou Brock and two beloved nieces, Rebecca Carroll and Montyne Flint. She was a member if the Church of Christ and taught children’s and teen girls’ Bible classes for 27 years, primarily at Northside Church of Christ. Her home congregation was the Highway 27 South congregation in LaFayette, GA.

Mrs. Payne loved to travel and a favorite experience was a trip she and her husband took to the Kennedy Inauguration in 1961 as guests of newly elected U.S. Representative John W. Davis.

Mrs. Payne served as president of the Summerville Women’s Club, president of the Chattooga Garden Club, was a member of the Music Study Club, and secretary of the Summerville Elementary PTA. She was also active in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts as her children were growing up. She served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Chattooga County Library Board and was a former Chairman of the Chattooga County Cancer and Heart Association Drives. She taught school at Summerville Elementary briefly and was her husband’s bookkeeper and office manager for many years. She was also a licensed real estate agent for a time. More recently, she was an active member of the local Red Hats group. Mrs. Payne was an ovarian cancer survivor and was always thankful that God allowed her more time with her family.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 29th, at 2:00 p.m. from the Graveside, with Edward Ledford, Officiant, burial to follow in the Family Plot of Summerville Cemetery. Active Pallbearers will be Milford Morgan, Jim Hill, William Crouch, Jason Ledford, Ryan Ledford, Mike Allen, and Charles Williams, Jr.. Honorary Pallbearers will be Quinton Wilson, Sammy Strange, Buster Hollis, Gary McConnell, Chuck Tilley, and John Shamblin. Visitation will be Saturday from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. at Earle Rainwater Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cancer Navigators of Rome. Donations may be mailed to: 3 Central Plaza #415 Rome, Georgia 30161.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Mrs. Montyne Brock Payne.

Mrs. Nona Laura Ray Snow, age 98, Summerville, GA, formerly of Trion, passed away Friday, May 7, 2021 at a local hospital.

Mrs. Snow was born in Cherokee County, AL (Farill) on August 16, 1922, daughter of the late Columbus Washington Ray and the late Edith Mae Henderson Ray. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas W. Snow, Sr., in 1965, two sons, Thomas W. Snow, Jr., in 2013 and James W. Snow in 2017, brother Columbus “Bud” Ray in 2018, sister Annie Mae Williams in 2020, and son-in-law, Raybon Williams, in 2018.

Mrs. Snow was retired from the Chattooga County School System as a lunchroom manager, serving at Summerville Elementary, Pennville Elementary, and Lyerly Elementary schools. She also worked at Riegel Textile in the 40’s and 50’s and the Trion Community Center “Y” in the 60’s and 70’s in the diner. Mrs. Snow was a long-time member of the Trion United Methodist Church serving in many capacities over the years.

Survivors include one daughter, Peggy Snow Williams of Gaylesville, AL, sons and daughters-in-law, Lynn Ivie Snow of Pensacola, FL., Kent and Barbara Snow of Ringgold, GA., Teresa Helms Snow of Trion, GA., David and Avis Snow of Subligna, GA., and Robin and Anna Snow of Pensacola, FL. Survivors also include 13 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at the Trion United Methodist Church on Sunday, May 9th from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM with a celebration service to follow at 2:00 PM. The Revs. David Autry and James Hannah will be officiating. Interment will follow at West Hill Cemetery in Trion, GA., for family only. Pallbearers include grandsons Gil Williams, Ashley Snow, Clayton Snow, Chris Snow, Jeremy Snow, Adam Snow, and Tom Snow. Honorary pallbearers include the church youth groups from the 1960’s and 70’s, Elizabeth Hall, Stanley Carpenter, and residents on Bittings Ave. in Summerville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be given to Trion United Methodist Church or to Camp Hamby. Please observe mask wearing and social distancing as needed. Earle Rainwater Funeral Home has the arrangements for Mrs. Nona Laura Snow.