Mr. Arnold Payne passed away on Tuesday, May 22nd at Walker Baptist Medical Center at the age of 94.
The family will receive friends on Friday, May 25, 2018 from 9:30 am until 11:00 a.m. at New Horizon Memorial Funeral Home in Dora. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 am in the New Horizon Memorial Chapel. Pastor Kerry Turner will officiate. A graveside service will follow at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery.
Arnold was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Ina Lucy Ferguson Payne, son-in-law, Ronald E. Ware, parents George Bart Payne and Lucy Spears Payne, brothers Jimmy R. Payne and Ferris Payne, and sister Marjorie Payne Carver.
He is survived by his daughters, Patricia Ware and Arna Lois Pridmore (Randall), grandchildren Ronald Shane Ware (Laura), M. Jonathan Glover Jr. (Kelly), Tisha Ware Cagle (Gary Lee), Derik A. Pridmore, and Jay P. Pridmore, great-grandchildren Cristopher S. Ware, Ethan K. Glover, Abigail E. Glover, and K. Gantlee Cagle, great-great granddaughter Ahvay Lou Ware, brothers, Terrell (Tee) Payne and Rayburn (Mary) Payne, and a host of extended family and friends.
A native of the Bagley community, Arnold worked briefly as a welder in the Mobile Shipyards. He entered the United States Army at the age of 19.
He fought bravely in battles and campaigns throughout Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe, receiving the Good Conduct Medal, the WWII Victory Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with one Silver Star following his dedicated service to his country.
He was named as Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honor by the Consul General in appreciation for his service contributing to the liberation of France during WWII.
Following his service in the United States Army, Arnold completed a career of over forty years in the coal mines, retiring from the Drummond Company in 1986. He was a member of the Brooklin Masonic Lodge #704 in Dora for over sixty years and was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Arnold was a member of Good Hope Baptist Church.
The family would like to express sincere gratitude to special family friends Mary Ann Hagler and Veronica Hagler Thomas.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.newhorizonmemorial.com
New Horizon Memorial Funeral Home directing, 205-648-2323.
