In Loving Memory of Mrs Jewell Payne

Born on November 16, 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, Jewell Washington was the oldest daughter of Mary Witt Washington. One of Seven children. Jewell was raised in an area known as Woodlawn, in very humble surroundings, in a home filled with love, she was taught the value of hard work fueled by a strong sense of self determination and acceptance of personal responsibility.

Her childhood was a mixture of assisting her mother as she did the laundry and house work of near by families along with the traditional Southern public school education provided to African Americans of her generation. These elements served to ignite a desire to better herself and her future through the pursuit of higher education. It was during this pursuit that Jewell discovered her love of learning and her unique gift for teaching others. Jewell began her post certificated teaching career in schools surrounding her birthplace. It was also during these years that she met and fell in love with Sam Payne. Later the two would marry and decide to leave Alabama and head North where Sam felt opportunities to provide for his bride would be more plentiful. Sam and Jewell were married on April 1, 1942 in Lucus, Ohio.  Sam and Jewell would settle in Detroit, Michigan where they would eventually open a restaurant that would serve barbecued meals and side dishes. After modest success, the restaurant closed and Sam found work at General Motors. The couple relocated to Inkster, Michigan to start their family. Sam achieved the title of Inspector and remained there until his retirement. 

There were two children to the union of Sam and Jewell. their sons Samuel Robrert and Sidney Hamilton provided the crowning piece to their marriage. Seeing her children grow rekindled the desire in Jewell to transfer off of the substitute teacher roster for Inkster Public Schools where she consistently received assignments without the security od a permanent position.

Jewell earned the credentials to obtain her goal of a permanent position in the Inkster Public Schools was the acquisition of some additional College units and the official awarding of her degree. As she had done previously. Jewell met the challenge and returned to Alabama State University to complete all remaining requirements in one summer, with young Sidney in tow and the baby sitting assistance of her sister, Cora. Jewell graduated with honors and was given her permanent position that fall.

Jewell became one of the most respected Childhood educators in the Inkster Public School Distric. She was widowed in 1974 and retired in 1985. She is survived by her son Sidney, her son Samuel, and his wife Roseta; three grandsons, Don, Antoine, and Kerrin, and three great grandsons, Keelyn, Kellyn, and Keilyn. In  addition she is mourned by the Witts, the Washington's  and numerous former students, colleagues, church members and well wishers

                  Order of Celebration

Processional of the family and minister

Invocation and Scripture...........Psalm 23rd..........Rev. James McNight

Reading of the Obituary............................................Sidney Payne

Musical Selection.........."I am Just a Prayer Away"....Yolanda Adams

Expressions of Love...............................................Family & Friends

Musical Selection............"I Need You Now".........Smokie Norful

Poem......................................................................Sidney Payne

Musical Selection......................."Say Amen"........Howard Hewell

Words of Comfort.........................................Rev. James McNight

Musical Selection....................."Still I Rise".......Yolanda Adams

Recessional of the Family and Minister

                 Private internment

It is love that holds a family together through the years

It is love that makes sweet memories that passing time endears

It is love that fills our heart with joy as nothing else can do

Everything I learned about Love. I learned Mother first from you.