State Resolution Honors Rhonda Payne

State Resolution 638 passed the Georgia State Assembly Tuesday, honoring the life of Douglas County's former Clerk of the Superior Court, Rhonda Payne, who died at the age of 46 on March 17 after a brief illness.

"It was such a tragedy. We're going to miss her," State Senator Donzella James (35th District) said. James was one of several legislators who sponsored the resolution, including Senators Vincent  Fort 39th, Valencia Seay (34th)
Nan Orrock, (36th),  Gloria Butler and Gail Davenport, (44th).

"To get sick and leave us at such a young age is really sad," James said.

The County Clerk and the soon-to-be State Senator met in the mid 1990s, when James was just running for office.

"She already knew who I was and said 'when you win come back and see me now,'" she said. "She was a true professional who took her job seriously. She was kind to everyone. I saw her a few months ago and we spoke. She was probably very ill at that time but she wouldn't let anyone know it.

"We'll miss her," James said. "I just wanted to give her some kind of tribute from the State. The resolution is offered in deep regret of her passing with our deep condolences to her family and friends."

The resolution is attached to this article and reads as follows:

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life and memory of Ms. Rhonda Payne; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens with the passing of Ms. Rhonda Payne on March 17, 2013; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Payne began working for the Douglas County Superior Court clerk's office in 1986, just after she received her diploma from Douglas County High School; and
WHEREAS, her energy and enthusiasm helped her rise to the position of office manager by the 1990s, and by 1999 she was chief deputy clerk; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Payne assumed the role of clerk in 2007 upon the previous clerk's passing and was officially elected to fill the position in November 2008; and
WHEREAS, one of the proudest moments of her exemplary career was being selected as the 2007 Douglas County administrative employee of the year; and
WHEREAS, she gave inspiration to many through her high ideals, morals, and deep concern for her fellow citizens, and the devotion, patience, and understanding she demonstrated to her family and friends were admired by others; and
WHEREAS, she was a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness and, by the example she made of her life, she made this world a better place in which to live; and
WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous woman, Ms. Rhonda Payne will long be remembered for her love of family and friendship, and this loyal friend will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing her.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Ms. Rhonda Payne and express their deepest and most sincere regret at her passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of Ms. Rhonda Payne.

Related Douglasville Patch articles:

Clerk of Superior Court Dies

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