Eloise Redmon Payne, 90

February 06, 2021

Eloise Redmon Payne, 90, of Lancaster, passed away on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Oak Leaf Manor North. Born in Asheville, NC she was the daughter of the late Clarence and Bessie (Netherton) Redmon. She was also the loving wife of the late Willie Leonard Payne for over 60 years until his passing in 2016.

Eloise met the love of her life, Willie Leonard, while playing piano for a gospel singing group. Eloise attended Blanton’s Business College and worked as a secretary. When they started their family, raising their children and caring for their home became her focus. After their children had grown, Eloise was proud to work as an executive secretary for Blue Cross Blue Shield for the last 10 years before retirement.

A talented pianist and vocalist herself, Eloise fostered a love of music within her family and supported her children as they learned new instruments and grew in their own skill. Music became a strong shared bond and played a beautiful role in their family traditions and gatherings.

Eloise and Willie Leonard always made it a point to make regular family trips “home to North Carolina.” They enjoyed visiting with their parents and family. The family would also go on trips to Ocean City, MD to enjoy the beach.

Faith was a large part of Eloise’s life. She was a long-time member of Manor Church and was a former member and employee of Hempfield United Methodist Church. Through church she would teach Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, play piano, sing in the church choir, and many other church activities.

Eloise was also a skilled seamstress and enjoyed sewing, quilting, and crocheting. When she was younger, she made clothing for her siblings and for her children. She enjoyed reading religious texts and romance novels and liked spending time watching movies, especially those with heart-warming themes and Christmas movies. She was incredibly crafty and would include crafts in her Sunday School lessons and always had fun activities for her grandchildren to do when she babysat, including teaching Amy and Zach to ride a bicycle. Her grandchildren have many wonderful memories of her teachings, fun projects, and of her love.

Family came first to Eloise; it was her whole world. She was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and daughter. The time she spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are forever cherished memories. Eloise was a wonderful mother-in-law as well. She welcomed Robin and Jim into her heart and became a second mother to them and was always there to show her support for them. Her family will always treasure her humor, wisdom, and unending love and support.

She will be dearly missed by her son, Leonard Payne and his wife Robin; daughter, Nancy Kelly and her husband Jim; three grandchildren: Amy Splain and her husband Mike; Zach Payne and his wife Ally; and Cyndi Meredith and her husband Tim; four great-grandchildren: Collin, Tori, and Gabi Meredith and John Payne. She will also be missed by her siblings: Harold Redmon and his wife Helen; Ellen Hawkins and her husband Bruce; and Kathryn Elaine Allred and her husband Nick; and many nieces and nephews.
Eloise is preceded in death by her husband Willie Leonard; her parents; and a brother, Richmond Redmon and his wife Martha.

To ensure safety for friends and family at this time, the family will be holding private services. Interment will be held at Manor Church Cemetery, where Eloise will join her husband. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Hempfield United Methodist Church – Care Ministry (attention: Joyce Young) 3050 Marietta Ave, Lancaster Pa 17601.