BIRMINGHAM, AL Bonita Payne, 71, departed in her sleep on Thursday February 2, 2012 at South Haven Nursing Home in Birmingham. She was born November 18, 1940 in Newark, OH, a daughter of Carl W. and Frances Eleanor Appleton Smith.

Mrs. Payne was a 1958 graduate of Hubbard High School and in 1961 she graduated from the Sharon General Hospital School of Nursing as co-valedictorian of her class. She then served as a flight nurse in the United States Air Force, attaining the rank of first lieutenant, and upon her honorable discharge she later continued her stellar nursing career as a registered nurse in clinics and hospitals across Alabama, Maryland and Mississippi. Bonnie attained certification as a critical care nurse from the University of South Alabama and later served as the head nurse of George County Hospital in Lucedale, Mississippi and was instrumental in the founding of the George County Home Health Care Agency.

Bonnie was active in the community as a Webelo Scout den mother, and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lucedale. After more than 20 years of service as a nurse, Bonita's later years were burdened with illness of her own but she never parted with her sense of dignity, selfless love of others or her soft approach to life.

She leaves a son, Marine Lieutenant Colonel John Payne, Jr. of Sierra Vista, AZ; one brother, Steve (Debra) Smith of Hubbard; two sisters, Stella Martin of Struthers and Carlene (Rodney) Payne of Tyler, Alabama and ten nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Scott Edward Smith.

Private Memorial services will be held Saturday at the Kelley-Robb-Cummins Funeral Home.

Please visit www.krcummins.com to view this obituary and to send condolences to the family.

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