Eustace D. Payne, Sr.

Eustace D. Payne was born July 18, 1934, in Roxbury, MA, the twelfth of thirteen children to the late Ethelbert and Violet Payne. Affectionately known by the Payne clan as “Bookend #2”, his remaining sibling is younger sister, Eleanor Perryman. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Winifred Payne, Wilfred Payne, Ethelbert Payne, Jr., Samuel Payne, Thomas Payne, Sr. (Bookend #1), his sisters, Violet Payne, Rubinetta Bellamy, Ruth Dukes, Louise Mason, Esther Thompson, and Maridel Lema.

Eustace grew up in Roxbury, MA, and was an avid basketball player, participating in local basketball leagues, and was a leading scorer at Brighton High School. Eustace married his high school sweetheart, Bernice Wright, in 1956.

Always a dedicated employee, Eustace had a strong work ethic which he learned from his Barbadian parents. He worked at Stride Rite Shoe Company, Wonder Bread Factory, and in 1973 landed a job as a bus driver for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority where his brother Sam was working. He worked for the MBTA for twenty-eight years, retiring in 2001. 

Eustace was a sports enthusiast. He could be found at Washington Park, Carter Park, or Derby Park in the spring and summer months, umpiring softball games for the Roxbury, North Dorchester Community League. In the winter months, he was a referee for Tri-Valley and Old Colony high school basketball leagues and also coached for neighborhood leagues. After retiring his whistle, he continued as a referee from the recliner in his den.

In 2018, Eustace had an acute stroke while visiting his brother, Thomas, in North Carolina that changed his way of life. The right side of his body was severely weakened by the stroke resulting in him needing 24-hour care in a long-term care facility. However, God used this life change for His glory, and Eustace surrendered his life to the Lord. The son of a Pentecostal Bishop, he heard God’s call for his heart and secured his eternal insurance policy.

He was known at Hebrew Rehabilitation as “the Mayor” of Berenson West and regularly won the pool of quarters at Bingo. The staff and residents endeared him for his sense of humor. Despite the physical challenge, Eustace found new joy in life playing cards and board games with his family, receiving visitors and phone calls from friends and family, continuing to referee basketball games from his chair, and making Hebrew’s residents and staff laugh.

Eustace is survived by his wife, Bernice; five children, Eustace Jr. (Teresa), Carla, Renee, Lisa (Randy), and Terri; ten biological and surrogate grandchildren, Michael (Anna), Kiana, Sedale, Gabrielle, Shekora, Tiffany Asha, Diandra, Melinda and JP; ten biological and surrogate great-grandchildren, Kinsley, Aiden, Kailyn, Liliana, James, Jamie, Jacob, Kyra, Ja’nylah and JG; sister, Eleanor Perryman; sister-in-laws Shirley Payne, and Barbara Caruthers-Payne; brother-in-law, Eugene Wright; Godchild, Muminah Sabree; and a host of nieces, nephews, family, friends, and loved ones.

As we honor Eustace’s memory with gifts of flowers please consider donating in his name to Hebrew Senior Life, a 501(c)(3) organization in lieu of flowers,
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eustace D. Payne, Sr., please visit our floral store.