Mrs. Linda Shepherd Payne, age 68, of Jefferson passed away Thursday morning, May 9, 2013 at her home. A memorial service will be held on Monday, May 13, 2013 at 2:00pm at First Baptist Church of West Jefferson with Rev. Ken Morris and Rev. Michael Lea officiating. The family will receive friends on Monday, May 13, 2013 from 12:30- 2:00pm prior to the memorial service at the church. Mrs. Payne was born in Ashe County on Friday, October 27, 1944 to the late Leonard Harrison and Odessa Baker Shepherd. She is survived by her husband, James Harvey Payne, Jr. (Jim); a son, Jimmy Payne and wife, Amy, of Greensboro; two daughters, Amy McComas and husband, Eddie, of Mooresville, NC and Teresa Ausborn and husband, Tom, of Jonesboro, TN; a brother , John Shepherd and wife, Carolyn, of Jefferson; four grandchildren, L.D. Brooks, of Jonesboro, TN, Winston Claspill, of Jonesboro, TN, Connor Payne of Greensboro, NC and Drew McComos, of Mooresville, NC; several nieces also survive. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: First Baptist Church, PO Box 180, West Jefferson, NC 28694.