Audrey Williams Payne

Audrey Williams Payne, a beloved wife, mother, friend, and fierce warrior against cancer, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2024. She will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, May 10, 2024 at First Baptist Church with Dr. Ben Bowden and Dr. Brian Payne officiating. Private burial will follow in New Home Cemetery, Basin Community, AL with Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory directing. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service time. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to ALK Positive, Inc. 6595 Roswell Road, Suite G2310, Atlanta, GA 30328 or https://secure.qgiv.com/for/alkpositive/ Audrey was born in Birmingham, AL on January 11, 1971. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 1994 and moved to Enterprise, which she quickly adopted as her new home. She was active in many different civic organizations and served as President of the local Alabama alumni chapter. She taught Sunday School, and was an elementary school teacher for 25 years. Audrey Payne was a bright light. She had the spiritual gifts of passion and encouragement, gifts given to her by the Holy Spirit by virtue of her relationship with Jesus Christ by faith in Him. Her light impacted all of her relationships, especially those with her family. Eric, her husband of 30 years, and their children, Brooks, Anna Beth, and Colton, were the loves of her life. Her gift of mentorship was reflected in hundreds of young people in the Enterprise area. Audrey loved her parents, Jimmy and Patsy, and her sisters, Teresa and Connie. Being the youngest, Audrey was a beloved sister. She loved them as fiercely as they loved her and for girls, that sometimes meant loudly. When together, they each tried to outwit, outplay and outlast the others. They meant everything to each other; three parts to make the whole. And in that home vital disciplines and talents were nurtured. She loved to travel and seek out concerts or any sports events to attend. It didn’t matter who was playing; Audrey just wanted to be there to enjoy her passions and experience something new. She loved her Alma Mater, The University of Alabama and attended games whenever possible. Audrey was preceded in death by her mother-in-law, Jenny Payne. She is survived by her husband, Eric Payne; three children, Brooks Payne, Anna Beth Payne Glenn (Bryce), and Colton Payne; parents, Jimmy and Patsy Williams; two sisters, Connie Banks (Tim) and Teresa Aldrich (Randy); numerous nieces and nephews. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Audrey Williams Payne, please visit our flower store.