Charlene Joy Hargett Payne, 83, of Lake Jackson, went to be with her Lord on Thursday, April 3, 2014, after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage on Tuesday. Charlene, who always had a smile on her face, was loved by everyone who met her. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Mostly, however, she was a devout Christian who lived by God's word.

Charlene was born on May 23, 1930, the fifth child of Henry and Stella Hargett, in Coleman, Texas. Her father died when she was eighteen months old, so her mother moved her family to Freeport to be near relatives. Charlene graduated from the old Freeport High School. After graduation, she began working at the telephone company as an operator. The story goes that our daddy, Bobby Payne, saw her walking across the street to her job, and then called the telephone company and asked to speak to the girl in the red sweater. The rest is history. They were married for 57 years and the loves of each other's lives.

Charlene was an active member of Temple Baptist Church for more than sixty years, where she taught Sunday School, Training Union, Vacation Bible School, and performed many Hee-Haw skits for Sunday night fellowships. She was also the resident Meme for many of the kids there.

In 1981, she, along with her niece, Lisa Shaw, opened Attitudes School of Modeling, in the Brazos Mall, where she produced fashion shows for many years. She was often asked to judge beauty pageants throughout the Gulf Coast area, and was the chairman of both the Brazoria County Fair Talent Show, and the Fair Queen's Committee. Her other civic organizations included the Houston Livestock Show Paint Horse Committee, Brazoria County Hospital Pink Ladies, Clute Girls' Softball Association, Lake Jackson Little League, F.U.N. Football, and the Austin Town Historical Museum, and the Saturday Kids' Classes at Brazosport College.

When Bobby retired, he taught himself magic, and performed at schools, parties, and other events as "the Great Hou-Bobby." Charlene was his assistant. They both loved making people smile.

Charlene was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, Stella Burnett and Henry Hargett; her stepfather, Howard Burnett; her brothers, Herbert and Harold Hargett; her sisters, Doris Templace and Carolyn Bedford; her in-laws, Johnnie and Ruth Payne; and brother and sister-in-laws, Way,one and Nina Payne. She is survived by her daughter, Pamela Potts and her husband, David; son, Bryan Payne; grandchildren, Jonathan Schreiber, Steffan Payne, Emilee Payne, Ryan Pettijohn, Leigh-Anne Eaton, and Vicki Potts; great grandchildren, Jack, Payne, and Kate Schreiber, Asher Hedrick, Ali Eaton, and Cayla Caster. She is also survived by her sister, Faye Rosenkranz, along with many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends, and her faithful Corgi, Chloe.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday evening at Lakewood Funeral Chapel. The funeral will be held at Temple Baptist Church on Monday, April 7, 2014, at 11 a.m. Pall bearers will be her nephews, Dude Payne, Harry Priesmeyer, and grandsons, Jonathan Schreiber, and Steffan Payne; great-grandson, Jack Schreiber, and friend, Neal Adamcik. Honorary Pall bearers will be Max Wayne Rychlik, Coley Armstrong, Ryan Petijohn and the members of her Sunday School Class.

The family would like to thank Lake Jackson EMS and Memorial Hermann for the care she received during her final days, and our friends and loved ones for the love and support you have shown our family. May God richly bless you.

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