Myra Nell Crowder Payne, 83, passed away on Nov. 19, 2014, at Mitchell-Hollingsworth Nursing Home in Florence, Alabama. She was a native of Florence born Sept. 4, 1931, to the late Howard Crowder and Willowdean Broadfoot Crowder. At the age of 19, she went to live in New Orleans, Louisiana with her beloved grandfather “Big Crowder” (John Crowder), and her aunt, Bertie Patton. She spent many years in Fort Worth, Texas, and in the late 1980s returned to her roots building a small house next door to the Crowder homeplace on the old Savannah Highway.
She was a member of the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church and a graduate of Central High School.
Nell loved to read novels and biographies, do cross-stitch for hours at a time, play with her nieces and nephews as they were born, and travel. She especially loved to decorate for the Christmas holidays with a small tree in every room. Her best friends were her sisters. She lived for 20 years beside her sister, Mary Wells. Those who knew her well could get away with calling her Nelle Belle.
Nell was the fifth of nine siblings, seven girls and two boys.
Preceding her in death besides her parents were Geneva Beumer (John), Jane Thompson (Melvin), Carl Crowder (Elizabeth), and Dot Witt (James).
Survivors include Geraldine Kynerd (Ira), of Pearl, Mississippi, Barbara Curry (Larry), Huntsville, Alabama, Mary Wells (Doug), Jack Crowder and sisters-in-law, Kathy Crowder and Elizabeth Crowder, all of Florence. She is also survived by a son, Thomas Howard Payne, and grandson, Sean Payne, of Nebraska.
She leaves a host of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Services will be held today at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church with Reverend Kenny Windsor officiating. Visitation will begin at noon with funeral services following at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Larry Curry, Roy Baskins, Gary Addison, Johnny Devaney, Floyd Hall, and Richard Jackson.
The Crowder family would like to thank Richard Jackson, Doris Devaney, and Margaret and Junior Hall for their friendship and help in our caring for Nell. We also thank the staff of Mitchell-Hollingsworth, especially Hattie McDaniel and Megan.
Arrangements by Greenview Funeral Home.
