Joseph Anderson Payne, III, age 94, of Smithville, TN, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2025. Joe was born on March 22, 1931, to Joseph Anderson Payne, Jr. and Fannie Mai Sturdivant Payne in Nashville, TN. He graduated from Cohn High School in 1949 and joined the US Navy in1951. He served aboard the USS Watts (DD-567), a Fletcher-class destroyer, for four years during the Korean War. He returned home and attended David Lipscomb College on the GI Bill where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. His life work took a quick turn when he was offered the opportunity to learn computer programming. He worked first for Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tullahoma, TN, but soon went to work for Radio Corporation of America (RCA) marketing large scale main-frame computers. He continued in sales later working for Formation, Inc., Sperry, and finally for Unisys Corporation from which he retired. Joe’s outgoing personality and knowledge of computer science made sales and marketing a perfect career fit. He maintained offices with the Bell Systems in the Flatiron Building in Atlanta for many years as on-site support. Many of his work friendships became life-long ones with monthly lunches and annual fishing trips to Florida.
Joe’s faith and church community were always an important part of his life. He was an Elder at Roswell Presbyterian Church in Roswell, Georgia, heading the Community Outreach Ministry, teaching Disciple classes, counting the offering on Mondays, and working in the kitchen for Wednesday night dinners. He also led the Transition Team when the sanctuary was razed and a new one constructed. Joe held a cherished friendship with three of his Navy shipmates and their wives until they preceded him in death – Bill Allen, Paul Brady and Jim Boyer.
On May 6, 2024, he survived a tornado which destroyed their Smithville home only to be sidelined almost a year later by a hip fracture on May 2, the day they were to move into their new home. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter-in-law, Kim Peda Payne, his sister-in-law, Helen Payne, and nephews, Mickey and Larry Payne. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Polly Allen Payne, five children and eleven grandchildren: Laura Hope Payne of Peachtree Corners, Georgia; Jenny Payne Mangan (Timothy) of Roswell, Georgia, and their three sons, Tyler Mangan of Nashville, Evan Mangan of Berlin, Germany, and Patrick Mangan (Lydia) of Dallas, Texas; Joseph Anderson Payne, IV and his two children, Allison Payne and Zachary Payne, all of Woodstock, Georgia; Andrea Payne Remke (Patrick) of Cartersville, Georgia, and their three children, Bailey Remke of Lakeland, Florida, William Remke of Nashville and Mae Remke of Cartersville; Katherine Payne Hurst (Branen) and their three children, Payne Hurst, Jack Hurst, and Wren Hurst, all of Signal Mountain, Tennessee. He is also survived by his only sibling, James Arnold Payne, a niece, Paula Ladd, and several great nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers of the Webb House, NHC and Gentivia Hospice for their compassionate care, as well as, Dr. Doug Hooper, Dr. Steve Cooper, Dr. Greg Sikes and Dr. Samuel Horr for their faithful care for over 17 years.
Funeral services in celebration of Joe’s life will be held at Smithville First United Methodist Church on Thursday, July 10, at 2:00 PM conducted by the Rev. Dr. Richard Hill and the Rev. Terry Little. Visitation with the family will be in the chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home from 11:00 until 1:30. Interment of ashes will take place at a later date. Memorial gifts are suggested to Smithville First United Methodist Church, 108 N 4th Street, Smithville, TN 37166, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the charity of your choice.
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.