Clerk of the Superior Court, Rhonda Payne, 46, Dies

Rhonda G. Payne, Clerk of Superior Court and State Court, 46 of Douglasville, passed away on Sunday, March 17, following a brief illness. She was born on Dec. 10, 1966 in Villa Rica, the daughter of Robert Douglas Payne and Geneva Vansant Payne.

She graduated in 1985 from Douglas County High School and began working for the Clerk of Superior Court’s office in 1986. She advanced to Office Manager for Jane C. Williams and was later named Chief Deputy Clerk for Cindy Chaffin.  Following Cindy’s death, Rhonda was appointed Clerk and served the remainder of Cindy’s term and then successfully ran for the Clerk’s position to continue her service to the Justice system of Douglas County and its citizens. She had been re-elected Clerk of Superior Court twice.

She had made many life-long friends in the courthouse and especially in the Clerk's office. She loved to play softball, scrapbooking and travelling. She had travelled to the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains and Vancouver, Canada all in what she referred to as “road trips” since she did not fly. She loved the United States Flag that she served under. You would find her taking pictures of flags all around the country. She was even known to hand out flags during her campaigns. She loved Nascar and the Atlanta Braves. She was delighted to meet Dale Murphy at last year’s Clerks convention.

Rhonda is survived by her parents, Bob and Geneva Payne of Douglasville; sister, and best friend, Kimberly Payne of Douglasville; grandmother, Georgie Vansant of Douglasville; Aunts and Uncles, Gerald and Phyllis Vansant of Douglasville, Ann Lambert of Winston and Lucy Stewart of Griffin; cousins, Kristy and Scotty Kimbrough and their children, Carsen and Will, Karen and Bryan Dean and their children, Ashley, Mason and Brex, Susan and Michael Smith and family, Alyce Payne, Elizabeth Payne, Paul and Laura Parker and family and Shelly and Andrew Shatz; several close friends, Tammy Howard, Tammy Ayers, Natalie Gray, Sharon Bailey, Nanette Folsom, among countless others; and her beloved dogs, Remy and Zoe.

Funeral Services will be conducted on Thursday, March 21, at 2 p.m. at the Ephesus Baptist Church with Dr. Billy Godwin officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m.

Interment will follow in the church cemetery with Doug Oliver, Todd Cowan, Lee Martin, Richard Stone, Lamar Camp and Kenneth Gray serving as Pallbearers.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Rhonda’s staff in the Clerk’s office, Judges: David Emerson, Beau McClain, Robert James, Eddie Barker, Neal Dettmering, Susan Camp, Peggy Walker, Michelle Harrison, Barbara Caldwell and James T. Baker; District Attorney David McDade and Attorneys and Staff; Sheriff Phil Miller and Staff; Wes Tallon; Solicitor-General Matt Krull and staff; local Attorneys; Douglas County Government and Courthouse employees.

The family will receive friends at Hightower’s Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, March 20, from 5 to 9 p.m.

Flowers are accepted; however, those desiring to do so may make contributions to the Ephesus Baptist Church Building Fund 8445 Ephesus Church Road, Villa Rica, Georgia 30180.

You may share your thoughts and memories of Rhonda in the online guestbook at www.hightowersmemorial.com.

Arrangements are entrusted with Hightower’s Memorial Chapel, 7034 Broad Street, Douglasville. For more information, call 770-489-2818.