Mr. George Randle “Randy” Payne, age 76, of Cedar Bluff, AL, passed away on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at a medical facility in Alabama.

Mr. Payne was born in Rome, GA on September 8, 1940, son of the late Thomas E. Payne and the late Ruby Inez Broome Payne. Randy served in the United States Army Reserves as a military police for 8 years. “Big Stuff” was a member of the Gaylesville United Methodist Church, was a local automotive dealer and was well known for his accomplishments in drag racing. Mr. Payne was a member of the NHRA Hall of Fame, The East Coast Drag Racing Hall of Fame, the Georgia Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Southern Drag Racers Hall of Fame and the Old Drag Racers in Panama City, FL and received the Floyd Sports Hall of Fame Professional Athletic Award. He represented Ford Motor Company in the 1970’s and raced on nearly every track in the United States and Canada, winning 76% of his races. Randy will be receiving the NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award in Bowling Green, KY on June 15, 2017.

Survivors include his wife, Judy Payne, Cedar Bluff, AL; two sons, Butch Payne, and his wife, Wendy, Rome, and David Payne, and his wife, Tammy, Rome; a daughter, Rebecca Ann Payne, Rome; step-children, Trisha Jaunez, and her husband, Bob, Rockford, IL, Cortni Kline, Daniel Vann and Jason Hulsey, and his wife, Jennifer, Bremen; his grandchildren, Tiffany Horton, and her husband, Chris, Rome, Trey Payne, and his fiancée, Mary Margaret McCord, Cartersville, Payton Payne, Nashville; Josh, Brent, Kaitlyn, Nickolas, Robyn Crocker, Dani Crocker and Taylor Simonson; one great grandson, Sam Horton, Rome; nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday April 23, 2017 at 2:00 PM in the Chapel at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, with Dr. Joel Snider officiating. Interment will follow in Oaknoll Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, on Sunday, April 23, 2017, from 11:00 AM until service time.

Pallbearers are requested to assemble at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, on Sunday at 1:30 PM and include: Steve Billings, Bill Gore, Jeff Harrington, Jeff Woodall, Bruce Price and Joe Baker. Honorary pallbearers include: Bobby Shellhorse, Mike Quinn, Audie Murphy Beason, Doyle Buffington, William Parris, and Rocky Blake.

Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, has charge of the funeral arrangements.