Ricky Lee PayneChattanooga, TN

Ricky Lee Payne, 62, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2025. He was born to William and Virginia Payne in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Ricky was a lifelong resident of the Chattanooga and Northwest Georgia area and was of the Baptist faith. Until his retirement in 2024, Ricky worked as a driver for Global Environmental in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He enjoyed fishing, family camping trips to Tellico Plains, NASCAR races, and raising Show Pigeons. Most of all, Ricky loved being a Pawpaw and cherished time with his family. He always made the most of every moment spent with them. Ricky was deeply loved by his family, friends, and everyone who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

Ricky is preceded in death by his parents, William and Virginia Payne; brother, David Payne; and sister, Marsha Costine.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of forty-one years, Susan Payne; children, Bianca (Joseph) Copeland of Ringgold, Georgia, Whitney (Angel) Payne of East Ridge, Tennessee, Nicole (Marcus) Payne of Rossville, Georgia, Ricky (Miranda) Payne, Jr., of Rossville, Georgia, and Jessica (Deuntae) Binford of Hixson, Tennessee; sisters, Donna (Marvin) Swann-Howard of Valley Head, Alabama, Hazel (Brent) Tate of Rossville, Georgia, and Gayle (Jackie) LaFauci of Rossville, Georgia; sister-in-law, Shelia (Don) Glover; dearly loved grandchildren, MacKenzie, Isaac, Elijah, Wyatt, Carter, Raelynn, Corbin, Caroline, and Oakland; special friends, John and Betty Ashworth, Greg Billard, and his Global Environmental family; and several nieces and nephews.

The family warmly invites friends and loved ones to join us in remembering and honoring Ricky on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Your prayers and support mean a lot to us during this challenging time, and we genuinely appreciate them.

An Online guest book can be found at www.wilsonfuneralhome.com. W. L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Homes, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, is handling the funeral arrangements.