Ophelia Bell-Payton, Hattiesburg

1930 - 2007

HATTIESBURG — Services for Ophelia Bell-Payton, 77, of Hattiesburg, who died Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007, at Wesley Medical Center, in Hattiesburg, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at McDowell Nance Convention Center, Palmers Crossing.

A private burial will be in Hattiesburg under the direction of Cook-Galloway Funeral Home, 1104 West Ave., Columbia, MS 39429.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at McDowell Nance Convention Center.

Mrs. Payton was born Aug. 8, 1930, in Natchez, Adams County, the daughter of A. Pender Bell and Estella Williams. She attended Cloverhill and Wilderness schools in Adams County. She was a member of Word of Faith. She enjoyed flower gardening, visiting nursing homes and the ministry.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Marie Fitzgerald, grandmother, Martha J. Paxton and cousin, Matiel Carter.

Survivors include her husband, Murphy Payton Sr.; daughters, Alfredia B. Jones and husband, James, of Houston, Janice P. Young and husband, D.C., of Dumas, Ark., Jackie P. Bailey and husband, Matt, of Ellicott City, Md., Matiel P. Edwards and husband, Ron, of Cypress, Calif., and Stella P. Lockhart and husband, Mike, of Hattiesburg; sons, Thedore Payton and wife, Angela, of Bowie, Md., Murphy Payton Jr. and wife, Lenetra, the Rev. Ray Payton and wife, Ethel, the Rev. Daniel Payton and wife, Sandra, all of Hattiesburg, and the Rev. Sidney Payton and wife, Barbara, of Columbia, S.C.; sister, Elsie R. White and husband, Wilbert; aunt, Martha Rice, all of Natchez; 20 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; special cousin, Ernestine Hickman of Metairie; a number of nieces, nephews and family.