James Whitney Payne, 70, of Holcomb, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 13, 2006, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Born Aug. 15, 1936, in Tippo, Miss., son of the Ola Mae Harris Payne and the late Meek Payne, he was a farmer and in construction. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Holcomb.

On June 24, 1997, in Clay County, Ark., he married Pennie McCurry, who survives.

Survivors also include seven sons, Harvey Payne and wife, Thelma, Benny Payne and James Payne, Jr., all Holcomb, Jarvis Payne and James Clifford Payne and wife, Vickie, all of Ft. Recovery, Ohio and Walter and Larry Jones, both of Lakeland, Fla.; six daughters, Stacy Payne and Olevia Payne, both of Holcomb, Catherine Hunter, Patricia Crestwell and Joni Jones, all of Lithia, Fla., and Jeanie Poe, of Olive Branch, Miss.; his mother, Ola Mae Payne, of Holcomb; five brothers, Andrew Payne, of Duck Hill, Miss., Noble Payne, of Gulfport, Miss, J.B. Payne, of Black Hawk, Miss., J.L. Payne, of Plant City, Fla., and Richard Payne, of Pass Christan, Miss., one sister, Doris Ann Ridenour, of Valrico, Fla.; 30 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Will Payne, Jr., and Reese Payne; one sister, Geneva Payne and one grandson, Larry Jones.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., today, Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Bradshaw Funeral Home Chapel in Kennett with the Rev. Gary Myers officiating.

Burial was in the Mt. Gilead Cemetery at Clarkton, Mo.