1928
Alfred
2016
Alfred Edward Payne
December 1, 1928 — October 23, 2016
Alfred E. Payne
1928-2016
Gastonia- Master Sgt (Ret) E-8 Alfred E. "Al" Payne, Sr. 87 passed away peacefully on October 23, 2016 at Courtland Terrace.
He was born December 1, 1928 in Dallas, NC, son of Calvin Burt and Velcie Elizabeth Payne. Al was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years, Marie Rogers Payne; brothers, Richard, Bobby, Ray, Calvin, Danny and sisters, Edna P. Russell, Dianne Payne and Inez Payne.
He is survived by his daughter, Suzanne Payne Andia and husband Bert; grandson, Gregory; granddaughter, Elena of Greensboro; son, Alfred E. "Eddie" Payne, Jr., and wife Pat and granddaughters, Karen and Jennifer of Kings Mountain; daughter, Nadine Carter and husband Steve of Winston-Salem and step-son, James "Jay" Denmark and wife Deborah and grandson, Polk Denmark of Raleigh; step-daughter, Nancy Lea Denmark of Sedona, Arizona; his brother, Donald Payne; his sisters, Joyce Hoffman, Ann Biggerstaff and husband Steve all of Gastonia, Shirley McSwain of Cherryville and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Al served more than 23 years on active duty in the US Armed Forces and 10 years in the Army Retired Reserve. He enlisted in the US Navy in December 1943 and served in the South Pacific during World War II, participating in the invasions of the Islands of Saipan Tinian and Guam. Discharged from the Navy in January 1946, he re-enlisted in the US Army. His assignments included but not limited to: 82nd Airborne Division, 304th Signal Operations Battalion in Japan, and Eighth US Army in Korea during that conflict. During his assignment in Korea, he was promoted successively to rank of Master Sergeant. Returning to the US from Korea, he was assigned as Sergeant Major to the Antiaircraft Artillery and Guided Missile Center, Fort Bliss, Texas. Subsequent assignments included Sergeant Major, Special Activities Division Nurenberg, Germany ; Sergeant Major, Joint US Military Advisory Group, Thailand and Vietnam; Military Advisor to New York Army National Guard and subsequently to the US Army Service Center for the Armed Forces, The Pentagon, Washington, DC, where he was serving at the time of his retirement.
He was awarded numerous Military Decorations and Citations including but not limited to the US Presidential Citation, the Korean Presidential Citation and the US Army Meritorious Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Upon his retirement from Military Service, Al began a second career with the US Department of Labor in Washington, DC being appointed as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for The Veterans Employment and Training Service, US Department of Labor.
Family will receive friends from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 25th at Withers & Whisenant Funeral Home with a Celebration of life Service to follow at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel with Pastor Dale Lawing officiating with military honors provided by the Gaston County Honor Guard and National Guard.
Entombment will be private at Montlawn Memorial Park, Chapel of Memories, Raleigh, NC
Condolences may be made to www.withersandwhisenantfuneral.com
Withers and Whisenant Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 2916 Union Road, Gastonia, NC (704) 864-5144 is serving the Family.
1928-2016
Gastonia- Master Sgt (Ret) E-8 Alfred E. "Al" Payne, Sr. 87 passed away peacefully on October 23, 2016 at Courtland Terrace.
He was born December 1, 1928 in Dallas, NC, son of Calvin Burt and Velcie Elizabeth Payne. Al was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years, Marie Rogers Payne; brothers, Richard, Bobby, Ray, Calvin, Danny and sisters, Edna P. Russell, Dianne Payne and Inez Payne.
He is survived by his daughter, Suzanne Payne Andia and husband Bert; grandson, Gregory; granddaughter, Elena of Greensboro; son, Alfred E. "Eddie" Payne, Jr., and wife Pat and granddaughters, Karen and Jennifer of Kings Mountain; daughter, Nadine Carter and husband Steve of Winston-Salem and step-son, James "Jay" Denmark and wife Deborah and grandson, Polk Denmark of Raleigh; step-daughter, Nancy Lea Denmark of Sedona, Arizona; his brother, Donald Payne; his sisters, Joyce Hoffman, Ann Biggerstaff and husband Steve all of Gastonia, Shirley McSwain of Cherryville and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Al served more than 23 years on active duty in the US Armed Forces and 10 years in the Army Retired Reserve. He enlisted in the US Navy in December 1943 and served in the South Pacific during World War II, participating in the invasions of the Islands of Saipan Tinian and Guam. Discharged from the Navy in January 1946, he re-enlisted in the US Army. His assignments included but not limited to: 82nd Airborne Division, 304th Signal Operations Battalion in Japan, and Eighth US Army in Korea during that conflict. During his assignment in Korea, he was promoted successively to rank of Master Sergeant. Returning to the US from Korea, he was assigned as Sergeant Major to the Antiaircraft Artillery and Guided Missile Center, Fort Bliss, Texas. Subsequent assignments included Sergeant Major, Special Activities Division Nurenberg, Germany ; Sergeant Major, Joint US Military Advisory Group, Thailand and Vietnam; Military Advisor to New York Army National Guard and subsequently to the US Army Service Center for the Armed Forces, The Pentagon, Washington, DC, where he was serving at the time of his retirement.
He was awarded numerous Military Decorations and Citations including but not limited to the US Presidential Citation, the Korean Presidential Citation and the US Army Meritorious Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Upon his retirement from Military Service, Al began a second career with the US Department of Labor in Washington, DC being appointed as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for The Veterans Employment and Training Service, US Department of Labor.
Family will receive friends from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 25th at Withers & Whisenant Funeral Home with a Celebration of life Service to follow at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel with Pastor Dale Lawing officiating with military honors provided by the Gaston County Honor Guard and National Guard.
Entombment will be private at Montlawn Memorial Park, Chapel of Memories, Raleigh, NC
Condolences may be made to www.withersandwhisenantfuneral.com
Withers and Whisenant Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 2916 Union Road, Gastonia, NC (704) 864-5144 is serving the Family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alfred Edward Payne, please visit our flower store.
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