Obituary

Tom "Lil Tom" Audric Payne

August 29, 1986-July 9, 2024

Tom Audric Payne, age 37, of Morganton, passed away on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.  He was born to the son of the late Lena Ann Harshaw Sudduth an Tom Ale Payne on August 29, 1986 in Cook County, Illinois. Tom Payne graduated from Freedom High School and was an All-American football player during his High School years. His success on the field garnered much respect from players, coaches and parents throughout the surrounding counties.  Tom was a member at Hartland Church of God and as a youth you could always catch him walking to church with a suit on and his Bible in his hand. Tom was a youthful and friendly soul to all he encountered and will truly be missed.

Tom tried his hand at many jobs but found joy in the Restaurant Industry working as a Server/Host.  At the time of his death he was employed as a Server at Ruby Tuesday in Lenoir, NC.  Tom was an outgoing person that always greeted people he encountered with a Big Smile. He was a jokester and known to most people as the life of the party.

Tom was predeceased by his mother Lena Ann Harshaw Sudduth, maternal grandparents Novella Harshaw Sr and Louise Wilkins Harshaw. Paternal grandparents, Willie and Cora Payne  and uncles Novella Harshaw Jr , Donnie Ray Harshaw.

Those left behind to cherish Tom's memory include his daughter Kiarra Nycole Payne and step-son Haven Jeziah Chapman of Morganton; his father Tom A Payne and wife Janice of Illinois; brothers, William Harshaw and wife Tina, Danynel "Shorty" Sudduth and wife Jamillah of Morganton and Marcus Allen Payne of Illinois; his aunts Kathy Harshaw, Wanda Harshaw of Morganton, Carolyn Sudduth of Mississippi, Trudy Payne and Wendy Weaver of Illinois; his uncles Nate Harshaw of Morganton, Charles Weaver, Chubby Payne, Bobby Payne, Willie Payne and Terald Payne of Illinois; and his lifelong best friend, Rick Lloyd of Morganton. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

The family will receicive friends at 12pm on Saturday, July 27, 2024. The Celebration of Life will be at 1pm, both at New Hope In Christ Church at 413 Bouchelle St in Morganton, NC. Pastor Wesley Hendrix of Mt. Zion Misionary Church will be officiating.  Tom will be laid to rest at Hartland Cemetary.

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations, LLC of Morganton of Morganton has the honor of serving the family.

The service will be livestreamed on the McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook page and YouTube Channel; the links are found below:

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/mccainfuneralhome/

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu4qb7IT7sO-Kc0BRs05J-A