Thomas Payne

Funeral Services for Thomas Blakely Payne will be held on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. from McClain-Hays Funeral Home with Bro Chris Gully officiating. Interment will follow in Bluff Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday, August 11, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. until time of service at McClain-Hays Funeral Home.

Thomas was born in Columbus, Georgia to Thomas and Marie Culberson Payne. Being a military family, he lived in Germany for a short time. The family moved back to Kemper County, MS in 1964. Thomas attended Kemper Academy. He graduated Class of 1973. He was a long-haul trucker for 52 years, logging over 2 million miles. Thomas retired in 2022 due to health reasons. He loved music and music trivia, WWE wrestling, hunting, and fishing. At a younger age he loved to travel with his family. Thomas loved his family, especially his grandson Karsen, and his dogs Andy and Sage. He will be missed.

Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Sharon Payne of Salem, Arkansas; daughter, Tamisha Anderson of Troy, Illinois; grandson, Karsen Anderson; nieces, Wendy Jacobs, Jessica Yarbrough, Amber Blair, and Crystal Vetter; nephews, Justin Payne, Regan Robinson, and Shane Duvall. Thomas also leaves behind several friends and their families.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Marie Culberson Payne; step-son, Tony Clutts; sister, Penny Payne; brother, Ronald Payne.

Pallbearers will be Jim Adcock, Justin Anderson, Shane Duvall, Ronnie Smith, Regan Robinson, and Richard Walker.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Karsen Anderson, Justin Payne, Billy Joe Robinson, Charles Duvall, and Randy Crowder.

In lieu of flowers family request all memorials be made to Bluff Springs Cemetery Fund 1986 Lynville Road Dekalb, Ms. 39328