Rowena Payne

Rowena Wikle Carey Payne, 83, passed away in Atlanta on July 15, 2012. She is survived by her sons and daughter and their spouses: Wayne Carey of Tucker, Greg and Ellen Carey of Lawrenceville, Steve Carey of Atlanta and Joan and Joseph Bathanti of Vilas, NC; grandchildren, Agatha (Emory), Hannah, Rebecca, Gregory, Stanlee, Sunny, Sydney, Anna, Jacob and Beckett; 4 step-children, Jeff (Yolan) Payne, Jon (Becky) Payne, Susan (Mitch) Wooten and Sally (Jeff) Hunt; 11 step-grandchildren and 7 step-great-grandchildren; and sister, Elizabeth Perkins of Oklahoma City, OK; She was also a beloved aunt to Karen, Teresa and Brian Perkins, all of Oklahoma City, OK. Rowena was born May 31, 1929 in Anniston, Alabama to the late Helen and Harry Wikle and moved with her family to Atlanta as a child. She graduated from Reinhardt School, where she was crowned "Miss Reinhardt" in her senior year. She married Daron "Ike" Carey in 1946, with whom she had four children. She spent many years working as a bookkeeper for Atlanta Fan Company and Union Camp Paper, retiring from Scott-Foresman Educational Publishing Company as an account representative where she was known for her dedication and "above and beyond" service. She married Howard Payne, Jr. in 1985 and spent her retirement tending her beloved roses and gardens, baking, enjoying grandchildren, family, church and was active with Gideons International for many years. She was a dedicated member of Indian Creek Baptist Church, Forrest Hills Baptist Church and co-founded Philadelphia Church in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 19th at Indian Creek Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Floral Hills Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6 to 9 PM at A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory.



Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033