100th
Birthday for Bertha Payne
Family
and
friends held a reception in honor of Mrs. Bertha Payne's 100th birthday
at New
Tazewell's First Baptist Church on Wednesday evening. Five generations
of
family were represented at the reception. Mrs. Payne's only surviving
daughter,
Peggy Payne Chumley (pictured) and her son-in-law, Bill Chumley were
joined by
four of her grandchildren (Jim Chumley from Texas, Joe Chumley, Bill
Payne
Chumley and Margaret Schneider - all from Florida); 21 great
grandchildren and
two great, great grandchildren. Mrs. Payne's extended family includes
many
friends from church where she serves as an unofficial grandmother to
many of
the children. Photo by Ed Baldwin (More Pictures Here)
BERTHA
D
(Campbell aka "Mrs. Clarence C") PAYNE VISITS HER CHURCH AS ITS'
OLDEST MEMBER, ON HER 100TH BIRTHDAY
What
a
miracle GOD bestowed upon BERTHA D. (CAMPBELL, aka Mrs. Clarence C
PAYNE) of
New Tazewell.
One
Hundred years ago, on October 19th, 1905
the tranquility of Bear Creek “hollow”, first heard
the cries of a “new born” baby.
Bertha D. Campbell was the third child born
to Ewin & Martha Shumate Campbell. Her older brothers Lon, Neal and
younger
sister Eliza, constituted the family.
(Bear Creek is located SW of Lone Mountain near the old Walkers
Ford, on
the then Knoxville Road from Lone Mountain.)
Who
would have thought that 100 years later,
she would be attending her beloved Church and be so fortunate, as a
bonus, to
have many relatives and friends, gathered from all across the country
plus
having FIVE generations present? (She had not seen the last ones yet!)
Mrs. Payne
is the widow of Clarence "Popa" C. Payne. "Popa" formerly
owned the Pontiac & International Harvester dealership in New
Tazewell, (in
the 1940s and 50s) near the present Century Telephone building, along
with his
son Bill- wife Sammie, daughter Ruth and her husband Dave Lipton.
Exactly,
one
hundred years later, on the evening of October 19, 2005, Bertha D.
Payne, an
amazing lady, AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 100, was honored at a reception,
which
proceeded the Wednesday night Prayer Service of the New Tazewell
Baptist
Church. She was the "oldest member in the recorded church history (so
we
are advised). The church memberships "CENTURY" celebration of her
birthday,
kinda spilled over into the Prayer Meetings allotted time.
Oh
well, no
one seemed to mind, as she seemed to again steam as the evening rapidly
waned.
For the first time in many years, she was out of the house to go to her
church,
instead of involuntarily being transported by ambulance to the
hospital.
She
visited
with a seemingly never ending group of the many well wishers attending,
some
traveled many miles, to honor this very inspirational lady. Many of
them, she
had not seen in many years
Bertha
is
well known & remembered by many, although, she says most of my
friends have
passed on, as she has lived in New Tazewell most all of her life, and
for many
years has served as the gathering center for the visiting Payne &
related
clans, which includes many nieces and nephews, that always visit with
Aunt
Bertha when in town. In fact, she spent most of the birthday on the
phone with
those that could not attend, but remembered her birthday
We have no
doubt, but that the Lord intervened, (along with Alex, Rev Randy
Pressnell and
others) but everyone was glad that she finally consented, giving the
scattered
family (Florida, Texas, Ark, S.C. and Alabama along with the others
that my
"halfheimers" overlooked) an opportunity to gather for reminiscing,
while enjoying seeing and holding her two new great-great
grandchildren, (Rhys
Santiago Gomez and David Landon McCormick) both under the 2 year old
mark. The
current 5 generation circle was composed of; Bertha Payne, Peggy Payne
Chumley,
Jim Chumley, Beth Chumley Gomez and her son Rhys (pronounced Reece).
Due
to the
untimely death of Ruth Payne Lipton in Arkansas a few years ago, there
was a
gap in the other 5 generation set, but Bertha, Jane Lipton Wesson, Anna
Jane
Lipton McCormick and her son David L enjoyed the party.
This
was the first time, in at least 10
years, that Bertha has been transported in an automobile, as opposed to
riding
an ambulance, headed for the hospital. This time, the destination was
her
beloved First Baptist Church in New Tazewell.
She, (along
with her sister Liza Campbell (Mrs. Glen) Carmack), had been an active
member
of the New Tazewell Baptist Church, for many years. With the
advancement of
age, she finally parked Ole Betsy (her 1977 Buick) in the small garage
(built
for 1950 size vehicles) at her home on 5th Ave., New Tazewell, ending
her
regular church attendance, but did not give up the Sunday morning radio
service. She was relegated to the life of a shut in, by necessity, as
her
mobility had gradually been curtailed,
Bertha has been adamant & determined, in
expressing her desires, as she says "I don't want anyone watching me
sleep", but has all of the companionship and care, that she will
accept,
in the form of her excellent & dedicated caretaker (Joyce Watson)
who has for
a number of years, kept close tabs on her (as much as Bertha P. will
allow her
to do), and is always on call. Joyce has always been there within
minutes, if
needed 24/7.
The
evolution of this celebration of the 100th was rather interesting, as
Bertha,
being the lady that she is, reserved the right and utilized, the
privilege of
changing her mind. After giving us the impression that she did not want
any
celebration of the 100th, she later, agreed to attend. We, at last,
realized
that she, in reality, was actually looking forward to it. After all,
it's
always been said that changing of the mind is a women's right.
A
few weeks
before the birthday, Kathryn Ault Watts (niece, South Carolina) called
Peggy,
saying: her daughter Judy Watts Breckenridge, (Greeneville, TN.) phoned
me to
see if you folks have planned anything to celebrate Aunt Berthas' 100th
birthday, and if not we would like to arrange something. Peggy
responded;
"Mother has so much difficulty understanding when more than one
conversation is going on, and she wants to talk to all, therefore
preferred
visiting with only a few at the time, and based on what she has
indicated to
me, may not be in favor of it."
During
these
days, some of the Lord’s messengers, Alex Pressnell, Chris & Nancy
Whitaker,
Rose Ann Clark, and some other local talents, were trying to get BP to
agree to
some festivities at the church.
She finally agreed to attend, for a couple of
hours before the usual Wednesday night prayer service, in fact, when
she indicated
to us, on the telephone that“ Bill, (son in law in Florida), and Gene,
(grandson in Texas), can get me into the car and take me up to the
church”, we
finally felt that it was a “go”!
Food,
decorations and a LARGE 100th Birthday Cake, were very graciously
provided by
the good cooks of the Church, and we all enjoyed the nostalgia that
exudes when
many “old” pictures from “by gone” days are relocated from all over,
are
viewed.
The picture
collection & display, was organized by Chris & Nancy Whitaker,
with
some of the pictures “showing up” only at the last minute. (How did
they do
it?) We are grateful to Rose Ann Clark for taking pictures during the
“party”,
(which we have yet to see), and all of the fine folks behind the
scenes, that
arranged for serving the “party” food.
Thanks
to
e-mail and telephone, many of those attending from far off places, made
last
minute plans to get someone to “cover for them at work”, catch planes,
meet
planes and make the scene a memorable one.
Members of
her immediate family, attending from out of town, were:
Her daughter
Peggy Chumley, (husband Bill), from Cocoa/Rockledge, Fl.; her grandson
Jim
Chumley with his daughter and her great grand daughter Beth (Gomez) and
great,
great grand son Rhys from Austin, TX; her grandson Joe & Cheryl
Chumley
from Lakeland, Fl; grandson Bill P, Kathy & great grandson Dennis
Chumley
from Titusville, Fl.; granddaughter Margaret Schneider, great grand
daughter
Shannon and great grandson Matthew from Titusville, Fl,
Her
daughter-in-law, Sammie McCrory Payne (Widow of William G. “Bill”
Payne) came
from Welder, TX, with (her son) grandson William G. “Gene” and wife
Trudy Payne
from Dallas, TX, granddaughter Susan Payne & husband Harold
Cobbler, with
great granddaughter Jennifer and her fiancé Antonio from
Victoria, TX.
Her granddaughter,
Jane Lipton Wesson (daughter of Ruth), great granddaughter Anna Jane
McCormick
and great, great grandson David Landon McCormick from England, Ark.
Her
niece
Kathryn Ault Watts from Union S.C., with her daughter Judy Watts
Breckenridge, and
one of their daughters, Audra, now residing in Greeneville, TN. (Judy’s’ husband, Dr. Rufus Breckenridge
made the scene also. He’s also good at changing flat tires, too!)
Mary
Ault
Cooper, grandniece from Alabama (grand daughter of Irene & Lawrence
Ault)
and her husband, Johnny
Her
niece
Amy Payne Potts, daughter of Roger & Alberta Cody Payne came from
near
Columbia, S.C.
Numerous
out
of town guests” visited with Bertha by telephone " finishing off
several
action filled” days, and she “weathered the storm” real well. In fact,
one
could surmise that it was really good for her!
The family
would like to express their most sincere appreciation to the NEW
TAZEWELL
BAPTIST CHURCH folks, on her behalf (and ours), for prevailing on her,
to allow
these festivities, hosting a celebration party, Chris Whitakers'
video show,
hospitality and food.
May
the
Lords’ blessing be upon those that worked so diligently to prevail on
her to
allow so many to see and honor her on that day, as she finally conceded
that
she too, in reality, did want it to happen.
Campbell
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