William Carter Payne

William Carter Payne, 66 of Jonesboro passed from this life Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House.  William was born October 1, 1953 to Charles Carter Payne and Rose Marie Jones Payne in Parkersburg, West Virginia.  He taught at Arkansas State University where he was a Professor of Clinical Lab Sciences. William was a member of The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jonesboro.  He served as church clerk, treasurer and head deacon.  William was a faithful member for 32 years at the congregation in Jonesboro.  He is preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Marie Payne and son, Dorian Henderson.

Survivors include his mother, Rose Marie Payne; son, Steve Henderson of Parkersburg, West Virginia; daughters, Pam Chapman of Jonesboro, Christina Cain of Houston, Texas and April Roush of Jonesboro; brothers, Charles Michael Payne of Lake Alfred, Florida, Robert Louis Payne of Washington State, Richard Anthony Payne of Orlando, Florida and Charles Aaron Payne of Michigan; sisters, Brenda Johnson-Lewis and Samantha Moore; 16 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

William taught for 31 years at A-State.  He taught classes in microbiology, immunology, parasitology, and blood banking and participated in collaborative research and published widely in wound healing.  William co-authored a widely used textbook on Clinical Microbiology. He served on various university, college, and departmental committees, including faculty senate. William was honored with a faculty teaching award. A scholarship fund has been donated by lifelong friends Dr. Stephen & Marsha Guffey in honor and memory of William Payne. The “Bill Payne Excellence in Lab Science” scholarship is administered through the ASU System Foundation.

There will be a visitation Friday, July 24, 2020 from 1-2 PM.  A memorial service will start at 2 pm with Tommy Blount officiating.

If someone wishes to donate for the scholarship, contact university advancement; advancement@astate.edu ; phone:870-972-2060; fax:870-972-3684; toll free:888-225-8343

Postal address: PO Box 1990

Due to COVID 19 restrictions, facemask and social distancing are required.  To sign an online guest book, go to www.emersonfuneralhome.

Service will be live streamed from Emerson Funeral Home Facebook page.