Helen was the fourth child of the late Rosie and Cornelius Payne. She was preceded in death by her brother, Otis C. Payne and her sisters Amanda Mikell and Leona Banks. She is survived by her husband, T.J., of 70 years, children Gale Alastair of Crescent City, Michele Simes of Pittsburg, sister Lowde Perkins and nephew Malcom Barnes of Pittsburg, sister-in-law Olevia Payne and niece Warreace Payne of Prentiss, Mississippi, niece Vera Wilkerson of Chicago, Illinois, four grandchildren Lisa Gale Simes of Antioch, Joshua Michael (wife Shaletha) Simes of San Ramon, Ryan Philip Simes and Nicole Marie (Simes) Peterson of Antioch, six great-grandchildren and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and many many dear friends.

Helen was a fine, devoted Christian wife, mother, sister, aunt, sister-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. For over 65 years she faithfully served as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in the local Pittsburg Congregation. She loved studying the Bible with others and talking to them about her faith. She was a loving, warm-hearted and generous woman who didn't sugar-coat her words. You always knew where you stood with her. While we will miss her dearly, we also celebrate her life because she did what she had encouraged others to do….Faithfully endure to the end.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial service on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at the Brentwood Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 2401 Smith Road in Brentwood.