Virginia Tech Alumni Association News - Spring 2004
Reverend Alfred C. Payne: Pillar of the Community
The formal title "Reverend" seems awkward when one refers to Al Payne, a friendly and cheerful man whose career was rooted in the YMCA and infantry duty in World War II. For years at Virginia Tech he was minister, friend, and colleague to countless students, faculty, staff, and others in the university community. He was a leader of the religious community, seeking to broaden the vision of those around him. He succeeded far more than he was aware.
A native of Georgia, Payne was a graduate of Clemson University and the Yale Divinity School. He joined the YMCA staff at Virginia Tech in 1946 and was later ordained in the Baptist Church in 1947. Leaving the campus after a few years to accept an assignment at the University of Pittsburgh, Payne later worked with various southern universities as they began accepting black students. He returned to Virginia Tech in 1958, first as YMCA Secretary and later as Counselor and Coordinator of Religious Affairs. Few who knew this gentle man are likely to ever forget him.
Payne retired as Coordinator of Religious Affairs in 1981, although he remained active, he often was called upon to pray at many of the university's more formal activities.
Payne's family and friends have shared their memories of him. Virle Payne, his wife of 62 years, knew him better than anyone. She recalls, Al was proud of many things, but was most proud of being called 'Ecumenical' because of his striving to bring unity to all the churches in the area. Those who knew him associated him with many things -- his love for life, family, and the community-at-large. Virle continued, Many people who knew Al associated him with his chair and me with my bike. At their 50th wedding anniversary, Al created a scrapbook with selections he had collected over the years. On the cover of the scrapbook was a drawing simulating Al in his chair and Virle pulling him on her bike. We really loved this drawing. It represented us very well!
His impact will weigh on our hearts for a lifetime and bring smiles to our faces always. Al Payne passed away on November 8, 2003. He was 87.
At Payne's memorial service, family and friends, per his request, made it a celebration of his life. The following are excerpts from those who spoke at his service.
Kelly Sisson, Senior Pastor of Glade Church of Blacksburg shared, My imagination takes me to the days ahead where he has conversations with those he has known intimately by their works:
- Thanking Samuel Clemments for giving him so many good quotes through Mark Twain
- Arguing with Tillich on the nature of 'being'
- Explaining to anyone who will listen what a 'NeoBaptist' is
- Saying to Picasso - 'What were you thinking, man!?'
- Looking Dr. King in the eye, and saying, 'Thank you, friend.'
- And, encountering any number of strangers and saying, 'Tell me about your mother.'
She continued, Several years ago Glade Church was approached about establishing the Payne Lecturers, to give voice to ethical issues and religious life with commitment to creative expression, academic excellence, and community service. Al expressed some hesitation with this...he said we can do this on one condition, it had to be named after Virle too expressing that the reality of her ministry was equal to and far surpassed his own.
Guy Hammond, Professor Emeritus of Religion at Virginia Tech remembers, Al possessed the rare ability to combine three aspects of our common life: the religious, the academic, and the civic. He continued, One must speak of Al's prayers, that for which he will be best remembered. I was privileged to have a running conversation with him over the years regarding the appropriateness of public prayer within a religiously plural community. He struggled with this, but to his great credit he somehow got it just right. Drawing as he did from the well springs of a deeply routed Christian faith, but remaining profoundly respectful of those with other religious traditions or none at all; what is the place of religion in a state university? Al's professional life was spent continually engaging this question.
Al had certain wishes for his funeral. He said I want everybody to gather there, I want them to say a few words, but if anybody talks to where it goes over an hour, somebody's lying. Al enjoyed laughter and bringing laughter out in others. He said he was looking forward to finding out if heaven was as good as he preached it. On behalf of all those here, Al, I hope it's everything you imagined it being because today you are celebrating the eternal life you have always known, Tommy McDearis, Senior Pastor of Blacksburg Baptist Church said in closing.
One of Payne's last appearances was May 30, 2003. He spoke at the Blacksburg Sports Club for their 40th year celebration. Virle remembers, Al was too weak to walk up the two stairs, so he just sat down and started reciting one of his prayers.
Special thanks to Tommy McDearis for providing a recording of the memorial service to the Virginia Tech Alumni Office. Biographical information provided by "A University At Prayer", published by the Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc.