Dorothy Ellen Payne

Dorothy Ellen Payne died peacefully at home on February 27, 2024. She was born on January 7, 1932 in Vienna, VA to George and Maude Gheen. She was predeceased by her husband Joseph Theodore Payne, daughters Brenda McGinnis and Angela Amaya, granddaughter Jessica Cowan, son-in-law Dwight Wardlaw, and siblings Margaret Merryman, Alvin Gheen, Betty Carpenter, and Frank Gheen. She was called Mom by Paula (Dwight) Wardlaw, Sharon (Jim) Buppert, Cynthia Payne, Joseph Payne, Jr. (Sue), Lori Payne, and Robin (Steve) Wolfrey and she was called Granny by her surviving 20 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Dorothy moved from Vienna to Washington, DC where she met her future husband, Joe. After spending a few years in Washington they moved to Maryland and expanded their family to eight children. Dorothy worked as a cashier until they started a successful landscaping company where she provided support to the family business.

Her love of family, friends, traveling, NASCAR races, and bingo kept her busy. Throughout her lifetime she took grandchildren on trips to Disney World, traveled to many places, and was an avid bingo player, where she met many of her lifelong friends. She and Joe also traveled the NASCAR circuit every year, where they also made many lifelong friends.

If you knew her, you loved her. She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, had a great sense of humor, and devoted to all. We will miss her and her smile, and will keep her in our memories forever.