W.O. (Woody) Payne

W.O. Payne (Woody)of Dublin passed away peacefully on Monday, April 8th, 2024, at Addington Place. Mr. Payne was born on March 30, 1935, to Woodrow Wilson and Maggie (Nobles) Payne of Allentown. Woody graduated from Dudley High School, where he met his future wife, Janice Watson Payne. Soon after marrying, he was accepted into the final class of the machinist apprenticeship program at Warner Robins Air Force Base, where he later finished first in his class. His gift as a talented machinist led him to several career opportunities before opening his own successful business in Dublin in 1966, Dixie Machine & Tool Company. The business remained in the family and operated for fifty-seven years, serving a vital role in the community and for numerous industries in and around Dublin.

Best remembered as a committed Christian, gifted machinist, and a devoted family man, Woody was also an engineer at heart. While in business he invented a machine for the kaolin industry for testing the brightness of the clay in plants all over the world. He also redesigned the pecan log roll candy machine for Stuckey’s Corporation! That creative engineering spirit carried through into other areas of Woody’s life. As a member and deacon of Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, he helped to lead the church in the design and building of a new sanctuary on Springdale Rd.

After retirement, Woody devoted himself to what he considered his legacy, the family farm. His vision for the property became clear when he had an old church moved to the farm and renovated it into “The Meeting House” for countless family gatherings and cookouts. In addition, Woody loved to cook and could often be found perusing cookbooks for recipes to try out on the family! In fact, he probably had the first Big Green Egg cooker in Dublin because he went to Atlanta to get one when they first came out in the 1970’s! He also loved watching the Braves with his wife and family; he loved country music and RFD and the Grand Ole Opry; and he loved taking the family to Panama City Beach and Pigeon Forge. But most of all Woody loved people--- from family, to friends, employees, and customers.

Woody Payne’s can-do spirit and positive attitude impacted everyone with whom he came in contact! His grandchildren, each of whom had a special nickname bestowed by Granddaddy, say they learned much of what they know about life as well as practical skills of building and planting by spending time at the farm with him. In addition to the family farm, Woody’s engaging storytelling ability, his positive and inventive spirit, and his great love of family and others will live on in the hearts of many and will be his permanent legacy.

Mr. Payne is survived by his wife of 69 years, Janice Watson Payne; sisters: Jackie Payne Couey, and Melba Payne Lee; children: Ronda Hudson (Herman), Jana Bradshaw (Ben), Weldon Payne (Jennifer) all of Dublin: grandchildren: Matthew “Bud” Bradshaw (Tara) of Dublin, Stephen “Spud” Bradshaw (Morgann) of Augusta, Caroline “Sugar Baby” Payneof Atlanta, and Joseph “JoBo” Payne(Veronica) of New York City; great-grandchildren: Maggie Claire Bradshaw, Lane Bradshaw, Finn Bradshaw, Amelia Bradshaw, and Davis Bradshaw; nephews: Mark Lee (Stacye) of Dublin, Randall Watson of Montrose; niece: Karen Albright (Rob) of Warner Robins, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held in the chapel of Townsend Brothers Funeral Home at 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 13th with Elder Garry Hall and Elder Sam Bryant officiating. Burial will follow at Dublin Memorial Gardens. Mr. Payne’s four grandchildren will serve as pallbearers, along with Wayne Howard and Brandon Thomas. Visitation with the family will take place before the service at 1:00 p.m. at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home. The family will gather at the home of Ronda and Herman Hudson.

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