Laffelle Payne, 84, of Beaumont, died Thursday, May 1, 2014, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont.  She was born on September 23, 1929, in Huntington, to Nellie Porter Youngblood and Thomas Youngblood. 

Laffelle was the youngest of four children. She graduated from Huntington High School at sixteen and attended Stephen F. Austin State University. She was an active member of the Pine Burrs, an academic and social sorority at the university. She also played on Stephen F. Austin’s women’s softball team. She began her teaching career at the age of nineteen in Saratoga, Texas. It was at this time that she met John "Shorty" Payne. They married on March 21, 1949. Phyllis, Lavisa, Denise, John, and Teresa quickly joined them. After thirty-one years, she retired from West Hardin ISD. She always said that she tried to treat each child like one of her own. She was known for teaching her fourth graders to play softball each spring. She strived to learn new things each day. In her late seventies she took a beginner computer class at Hemphill High School to keep up with her ever-growing family using technology.

Mrs. Payne was a member of the Eastern Stars, The Mississippi Women’s Club, and Alpha Delta Kappa, a professional educator’s sorority. After retirement, she volunteered at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont. She was an active member of Oak Hill Baptist Church in Hemphill, Texas. She loved to socialize, throw parties, and travel. She was known as a magnificent cook. She also had a wonderful sense of humor. She made people smile.

Mrs. Payne had the ability to make every person she met feel special. She accepted her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as unique individuals with personalities of their own.

Survivors include her husband, J.E. “Shorty” Payne of Beaumont; son, John Payne, Jr. and his wife, Ginger, of China; daughters, Phyllis Payne Ruffino and her husband, Tommy, of Holland; Lavisa Payne Upton and her husband, Bob, of Allen; Denise Payne Barron and her husband, Stan, of Richmond; and Teresa Payne McCoy and her husband, Paul, of Saratoga; grandchildren, Charlie Ruffino and his wife, Lisa;  Justin Payne and his wife, Ramona;  Karey Ruffino Poe and her husband, Ricky; Whitney Barron George and her husband, Bart; Clayton Upton; Kyndell Upton Keppler and her husband, Greyson; Mallory Barron; Tara McCoy Beaty and her husband, Cameron; Josh Payne; and Abby McCoy; and great-grandchildren, Trystin Payne, Brett Payne, Rodie Ruffino, Madison Ruffino, and Tinsley Beaty. 

A gathering of Mrs. Payne’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, May 4, 2014, at Broussard’s, 530 West Monroe, Kountze.  Her funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 5, 2014, at Broussard’s, with interment to follow at Felps Cemetery, Thicket.