Carson Payne, Jr., affectionately known as “Bad Eye” to his radio listeners and fans, age 69, of Monticello, Kentucky, formerly of the Red Ash Community of Whitley County, KY, passed away on Tuesday morning, June 21, 2023, at his home.

He was born on December 21, 1953, to the late Carson Payne, Sr. and Fannie (Perkins) Payne in Jellico, Tennessee.

He was the grandson of the late Al G. Payne and Eva (Vaughn) Payne and the late William Perkins and Nannie (Nicholson) Perkins.

Carson was a well-known storyteller who entertained countless people throughout the years with his special style of delivering humorous stories, telling of “actual” events, and savoring the rich lore from Southeast Kentucky and East Tennessee.  Later, he hosted a radio show on WHAY for many years.

Carson was a graduate of Whitley County High School – Class of  1971.  He was also a graduate of Cumberland College – Class of 1975.  After graduating from college, he obtained a job with the State of Kentucky State as a Health Inspector from which he retired many years later.

He was a longtime member and deacon of the Kensee Missionary Baptist Church before moving to Monticello where he transferred his church membership to the Parmsley Grove Baptist Church. 

He was a member of the Jellico Masonic Lodge, # 527, F&AM for more than 48 years.  He was initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason on March 14, 1975, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft Mason on April 19, 1975, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on May 23, 1975.  He was elected and served as Master of Jellico Lodge in 1985.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jane (Sowder) Payne, four brothers, Ernest Delbert Payne, William Alford Payne, George “Shank” Payne, and infant, Johnny Hugh Payne; sister, Nannie Sue (Payne) Davis; four brothers-in-law, Johnny Herron, J. L. Davis, Charles Sowder, and Eddie “Eddie-Boy” Sowder; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Edd Sowder and Charlotte “Granny” (Hackler) Sowder.

He is survived by his son, Carson Edward “Cas” Payne, and wife, Stephanie (Bush) Payne, and two grandchildren, Carson Jabez Payne and Julieann Summer Payne, all of Monticello.

He is also survived by two sisters, Dollie (Payne) Williams, of Xenia, Ohio, and Selma (Payne) Herron, of Strawberry Plains, Tennessee; five sisters-in-law, Laura (Graham) Payne, of Clinton, TN, Rachel Payne, of Soddy Daisy, TN, Emilee (Jeffers) Payne, of the Red Ash Community of Whitley County, KY, Eudell (Brooks) Sowder, of Williamsburg, KY, and Jessica Henley, of Staunton, Virginia; several nieces and nephews; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews, and a host of friends, neighbors, and other relatives to celebrate his Home-Going.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday afternoon, June 23, 2023, beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the Cox & Son Funeral Home Chapel.

Masonic Funeral Rites will follow on Friday afternoon, June 23, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. conducted by the Jellico Masonic Lodge # 527, F&AM.

Funeral services will immediately follow with the Rev. Rayburn Sweet, Rev. Benny Bush, and Rev. E. Wayne Barton, II, officiating.  Special music will be presented by Mr. Virgil Bowlin.

Interment will follow on Friday evening, June 23, 2023, in the Clearfork Baptist Church Cemetery located on Highway 1804, in the Cane Creek Community of Whitley County, KY.

Pallbearers will be Will Hackler, Mark Tidwell, Steve Payne, Daniel Chitwood, Brent Halcomb, Lenny Strunk, Andy Moses, and Clint Smith.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to Parmsley Grove Baptist Church in Monticello, KY.

Cox & Son Funeral Home of Jellico is in charge of all arrangements.

“Serving families in East Tennessee and Southeast Kentucky since 1910”

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