Sylvia T. (Blake) Payne

Sylvia T. Payne (nee Blake) passed away on Wed May 10, 2023, at home after a lengthy suffering due to illnesses and body trauma.

She was born in Atlantic City, NJ on September 7, 1941. She attended the Atlantic City Public School System. She briefly attended college in Trenton, NJ before the birth of her daughter Penni. She then began her 33-year career at Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, NJ. Shortly after beginning there came the birth of her son Stephen. She retired from ETS in December of 2001.

She was a member of several churches – St. James AME of Atlantic City, NJ, Christian Community Chapel and Mt. Moriah of Mt. Holly, NJ and ended with Lee Memorial AME Church of Cleveland, OH.

She was serious in the kitchen with her cooking and baking. Everyone loved her cheesecakes, and her favorite saying was “I have got to stop cooking like this!”

She was an avid reader and never without a book. Her library is in excess of a million books, hardback and paperback combined.

She leaves behind her two natural birth children, Penni and Stephen, a host of adopted children, including Pattie and Jacquie, brother Kenneth Blake (Madelyn) of Beachwood, OH, sister Gloria Williams (Greg, deceased) of Piscataway, NJ, half-brother Carl Anthony (Tony) Hughes Jr. of Absecon, NJ, sister Carol Truss (Herb, deceased) of Egg Harbor Township, NJ, best friend since birth Theresa Keitt, granddaughter Brianna Meredith (deceased), grandsons Jared Meredith and Marcus Jones, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends galore.

Sylvia’s final wish was to be cremated, which will take place in OH. Her ashes will be split between Penni & Stephen, so that Stephen can have a memorial service in Atlantic City, NJ. Details will be forthcoming.

The Twenty-Third Psalm

A Psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:

For thou art with me;

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

ARRANGEMENTS BY ORLANDO-DONSANTE-PREVITE FUNERAL HOME OF WICKLIFFE

(440) 943-2466. 

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