Mrs. Joy Bell Goss Payne, age 65, of Epworth, passed away on Sunday, September 11, 2016 in Chattanooga, TN. Born on April 29, 1951, she was the daughter of the late Roy Hammond Goss and Ealie Payne Goss. She was a member of the Church of God of Blue Ridge. She was a happy person who enjoyed being with others and her home and life. She worked for 38 years as an administrative assistant at the Mineral Springs Center in Blue Ridge.

She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Rev. John Henry Payne; children, Timmy Payne of Epworth, Angie (Jimmy) Green of Epworth, Carla Payne of Mineral Bluff, Chris Payne of Epworth, Clifford (Laura) Payne of Epworth, and Amanda (Joe) Sharp of Morganton; adopted son, Dwayne (Sandy) Walden of Blue Ridge; brother, Junior Goss of Epworth; twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, September 14 at 11:00 a.m. from the Akins Funeral Home Chapel of Blue Ridge with Rev. Jimmy Green officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery. The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Anthony Champion, Dwayne Walden, Timmy Payne, Chris Payne, Clifford Payne, and Joe Sharp. The family will visit with friends at the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 5-9:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to the Mineral Springs Center at P.O. Box 28, Blue Ridge, GA 30513. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge is in charge of the arrangements.