Vernon James Payne II's Obituary
Vernon James "VJ" Payne II, 38, of Springfield, MO, formerly of Boonville, MO, passed away on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 in Springfield. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 11:00 AM at the H.T. May and Son Funeral home in Boonville, visitation will be from 10-11AM Saturday at the funeral home. A livestream will be available at 11:00 AM on https://facebook.com/htmayfuneralhome/.
Contributions towards the services for VJ can be made at https://fundthefuneral.com/vernon-james-payne-ii.
Vernon James (VJ) Payne, II was born to Vernon and Juanita Payne on December 1, 1981, in Boonville, MO. From a very early age, VJ was soft spoken and very warm and friendly. His shy yet friendly demeanor is what would draw what eventually became lifelong friends to him, but it was his big heart and large capacity for caring for others that would make him “a friend to all, an enemy of none.”
As a young boy growing up in Blackwater, MO, VJ enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. As a child, he could often be found working in the fields with the men and the boys in the family, playing kid games with his siblings and his cousins, or reading and writing in a quiet place. VJ loved school, sports, and family gatherings.
Throughout his entire schooling, VJ excelled academically. He loved going to school, mainly because he loved to learn. As he developed his mind and academic prowess, he also began to grow athletically, playing sports from middle school all the way through college. He not only excelled in sports as a physical activity, but also as a teammate who would go the extra mile to encourage and motivate those whom he would share the football field, basketball court, and the track and field with. For years after he graduated from Boonville High School in May 2000, he held school and state records in weight lifting and shotput. He would carry this work ethic (in academia and in sports) as well as his sportsmanship all the way through college in Missouri Valley College in Marshall Missouri, where he graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Systems, in May 2004.
In 2015, VJ met his fiancé, Candice Bruce, of Bosworth, MO. In a few short years, they shared a great love and a mutual respect for one another, quickly becoming best friends. Together they grew in love and in their faith in God, encouraging one another to trust God in everything that they do.
VJ grew up in the church, and was a faithful and proud part of the Blackwater Church of Christ in Blackwater, MO from childhood into his early adulthood. He also attended Boonville Church of Christ in Boonville, MO. Upon moving to Springfield, MO, he attended River Stone Fellowship Church in Nixa, MO. He would initially give his life to Christ at the age of 14, but would also rededicate his life to Christ Jesus as an adult. His faith was very important to him, for this was his strength.
Even though VJ was not afforded the opportunity to have children of his own, he made a fatherly impact on every child that he was around. He loved them all dearly, and he made sure that they knew it. He set his mind and heart to encourage the children of his loved ones (and adults alike) to be confident in the gifts that God had given them, and to do their absolute best in everything that they do. The fierce yet gentle way that he loved his family and the children was what caused him to be dubbed, the “Gentle Giant.”
On November 18, 2020, VJ went home to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ, after a 2-month long battle against COVID-19. Even in his final days, he was not willing to surrender to this virus. He fought with everything that he had. However, the Lord saw fit to usher him into his eternal reward in the presence of God, healed from all of his pain and sufferings.
He leaves to cherish his memory his parents, Vernon and Juanita Payne of Boonville, MO; his fiancé, Candice Bruce of Bosworth, MO; his sisters, Virginia Payne of Kansas City, MO, and Victoria Payne of Boonville MO; nieces Charlene, Clara, Shaniah, and Mariah; Aunts: Renita Brown of St. Louis, MO; Linda Edwards of Ft. Wayne, IN; Stephanie Edwards of Ft. Wayne; Jennifer Goodman (Steve) of Troy, MO; Karlette Irizarry of DeSoto, TX; Reatta Ann Flowers of Marshall, MO; and LeGreta Hudson (Ernest) of Melbourne, FL; Uncles: Charles Kenneth White of Dallas, TX; Roger Edwards (Audrey) of Chicago, IL; Steve L. Edwards II (Alicia) of Joliet, IL; and Donald Michael Edwards (LaShon) of Chicago, IL; as well as a host of cousins, friends, and the precious children whom he defended, taught, embraced and loved as his own.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents: Clara L. Edwards, Steve L. Edwards I, Charlene Payne, Leon Payne, and William James Johnson; his Aunt Irma Edwards; and Uncle Darrell Johnson.
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