Mose Payne

Moses Payne III, 79, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 31, 2014, following a brief stay in the hospital. He was born in Huntsville, Ala., being delivered by and at the home of his uncle, Dr. James Ernest Walker. Except for the first month, the remainder of his life was spent in Chattanooga. He graduated from Chattanooga High School, where he participated in several sports. He attended the University of Alabama and graduated from the University of Chattanooga, At UC he was president of the student body and Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Lt. Col./ Commander of the ROTC Battalion. He was a distinguished military graduate and was offered a Regular Army commission. Other activities included Blue Key, a national leadership fraternity; Circle "K" International; Honor Council; and was selected for Who's Who Among Students in American universities and Colleges. In the three years he attended UC, he was a member of the varsity basketball team, receiving the Echo Sportsmanship Award. He also played varsity tennis for two years. Thirty-plus years of his professional life was in the field of education, both public and private. Most of his years were spent at Baylor School, where he coached primarily on the lower school level. However, he was the varsity tennis coach for five years. Because of the tremendously talented players he had, he was a semifinalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association "Tennis Coach of the Year" award. One of his hobbies was officiating football on the high school level and basketball on the high school, junior college and college levels. He was a football official in numerous playoff games, including four state championship games and one TSSAA all-star game. His basketball officiating carried him to many tournaments, which included one TSSAA state tournament. He served as a supervisor of basketball officials for the TSSAA for seven years. For over 10 years, he was a neutral observer of basketball officials for the Southern Conference. He was a member of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the J. Fred Johnson Jr. Bible Class. On two separate occasions he served as a elder to the congregation. He was preceded in death by his parents, Florence Inman Payne and J. Moses Payne, Jr.; sisters, Helen P (Dennis) Craig and Alasee P Thompson. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Martha Jane Abel Payne; daughter, Beth Cox and her husband Bill; son, Mose Payne IV and his wife Lisa; three grandchildren, Elizabeth (Christian) Roemer, Allen Cox, and Christopher Payne; several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 4, 2014, at the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Dr. Gary Carver officiating. Interment will follow in the Hamilton Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home Tuesday from 2-8 p.m. and at the church Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. We would like to express our appreciation and thanks to the staff in the critical care unit and 500 South at Memorial Hospital. Memorial donations may be made to the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church Preservation Fund, 1505 North Moore Road, Chattanooga, or to the UTC Athletic Department, 720 E. 4th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com. Arrangements are by the Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, North Chapel 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.