Linda Marie Payne

She was born to the union of James Gilchrist and Mildred Browder on November 21,1945 in Knoxville, Tennessee. She moved from Knoxville, Tennessee to Aurora, Illinois at a young age and attended school there. While in high school she played the violin and was first chair in the orchestra. She graduated from Aurora East High School in Aurora, Illinois in 1963. After graduation she attended, one year at Howard University.  She later went on to attend Lorain County Community College where she received an Associate degree in General Science in 1988. In 1991, she obtained her 2nd degree, an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technology. Linda was a member of the first class to graduate from LCCC University Partnership program where she earned her third degree a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health, where she had a GPA of 4.0. Linda was employed by University Hospital formerly known as Elyria Memorial Hospital, for 50 years where she worked as a lab tech. Linda moved to Oberlin, Ohio where she met her beloved husband Albert Morgan (Sutton) Payne. They married on September 3, 1967, and on the day of her transition they would have been married 55 years 7 months, 12 days 2 hours and 12 minutes.  This is just a pause in their love for one another as this love will continue to be in her husband’s heart. Through this union Linda gave birth to three children, her daughter Tierney, her son Eric and son Kene (Kenneth). Over the years she was a mother to many, many others. She was a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church, the oldest African American Church in Elyria. Linda came to know Christ at an early age. She loved the Lord and loving serving in the church. Linda had a beautiful voice and was a soprano in the choir. She was a Sunday teacher and taught Bible Study for many years. She served many families through working at the Asbury Food Pantry. She served as Pastor Parish Relations (PPR) chair for many years. Linda’s involvement with Save Our Children began when she served as Youth Leader where she organized many youth activities, and cooked amazing meals for all the children. Linda’s devotion to Asbury and SOC never wavered. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, doing crossword and word search puzzles, singing, dancing and traveling. Linda was a devoted follower of Christ, wife, mother, aunt, and friend. She is survived by her husband Albert Morgan (Sutton) Payne, daughter Tierney Payne of Elyria, Ohio, sons Eric Payne of Union, NJ and Kene Payne (fiancé Rebecca) of Parma Heights, Ohio; former daughter-in-law Krista Fields of Elyria, Ohio; bonus son Ron Malone III (fiancé Melissa) of Elyria, Ohio, bonus daughters Denise Whitson of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Fan Yang (Sung Min) Fort Lee, NJ and Courtney Savali Andrews of Oberlin, Ohio; granddaughters Alycia Mathis, Tiya Mehring (Kay), Alexa Payne (fiancé Jeff), grandson Elijah (girlfriend Mariah); great grandchildren Chrystian, Julianna, Laila, Ellie, and Jayvier; siblings Rebecca (Jeff) McCullough, Elliott (Elizabeth) Gilchrist, Dorena Gilchrist and Robert Gilchrist; sisters and brothers in love, host of nieces and nephews, cousins, host of people who call her mother, and grandchildren and friend. She was preceded in death by her parents, James Gilchrist and Mildred Browder, stepmother Daisy Gilchrist, and grandparents. Visitation will be on Friday, April 21, 2023 from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. until time of service at 12 noon at Faith Ministries Christian Center, 1306 Euclid Ave, Lorain OH 44052. In lieu of floral arrangements, the family request that donations be made to Save Our Children of Elyria, Inc. or Asbury United Methodist Food Pantry.