James \ Milton Payne

ASHEVILLE—James "Jimmy" Milton Payne, age 85, of Asheville died Wednesday, September 23, 2009. Mr. Payne was born May 26, 1924, in Boone and was a resident of Charlotte many years before moving to Asheville in 2007. He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a private in the Army. He was a son of the late Thomas and Bessie Watson Payne. Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Betty Jean Smith Payne; son, Rodger Payne and wife Janice of Asheville; granddaughters, Angela Eeds and husband Gary of Nashville, TN, and Jessica Payne of Asheville; great grandsons, Landon Krousel and Isaac Eeds; sisters, Ava Lee Cottrell of Winston-Salem and Lillian Woolman of Michigan; brothers, John Payne of Indian Trail and Ernest Payne of Winston-Salem. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 26, 2009, at Forest Lawn West Cemetery, 4601 Freedom Dr., Charlotte, NC 28208. West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, is handling arrangements. www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com