Frances Berry Payne

Frances Berry Payne, 85, formerly residing at Cathey Street, Belmont, went home to be with the Lord on August 31, 2014 at Courtland Terrace. She was born in Boone, daughter of the late Granville and Mae Berry. Frances was a member of Catawba Heights Baptist Church where she served and ministered as hostess and deacon's wife: she retired from Matthews Belk in Belmont; and she worked at Gaston Memorial Hospital where she was a nurse's aide in the nursery of The Birthing Center. A celebration of life service will be held 11:30 am on Thursday at Greene Funeral Service - South Chapel - 1503 S. York Rd., Gastonia, officiated by the Rev. Raymond Johns. Visitation will be 10:30 - 11:15 am Thursday prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in Gaston Memorial Park. She is survived by daughters; Karen Helms and husband C.B. of Gastonia, NC; Sandra Gentile and husband, Don of Lumberton, NJ; sister Martha Edmisten; brothers Cecil Berry of Boone, NC; and George Berry of Brooksville, Fla.; grandchildren, Wendy Bekesi, husband Richard; Destry Helms, wife Denise; Jessica, Amy, and Nick Gentile; seven great grandchildren, Devon and wife, Stephanie; Jordan, Collin, Ian, Julian, Marshall and Blake. She was preceded in death by her husband, Collis "C.A." Payne; daughter, Marsha Payne; sisters, Louise Cline of Arizona, Mary Hartley and Inez Storey of Boone. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alzheimer's Association - Western Carolina Chapter, 3800 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215-3220 or Gaston Hospice - PO Box 3984, Gastonia, NC 28054. Arrangements are with the South Chapel of Greene Funeral Service and Crematorium, Gastonia.