Billy Charles Payton

Billy Charles Payton was born on January 16, 1948, in Grand Cane, Louisiana, to Viola Lee and Charles “Buddy Boy” Payton. Raised in Grand Cane until middle school, he moved with his family to Shreveport, where he graduated from Bethune High School in 1966. He soon enlisted in the United States Army, beginning a distinguished military career that spanned two tours in Vietnam. He served with the 1st Air Cavalry in 1967–68 and later with the 9th Infantry Division near the DMZ in 1970–71. His service also took him to Fort MacArthur, California; Fort Lewis, Washington; and Grafenwoehr, Germany. While stationed at Fort Ord, California, in 1971, he met and married Alicia Marie Underdue. Together they had three children: Daryl Lamont, Darnell Lavern, and Tanisha Marie.

After receiving an honorable medical discharge, Billy settled in Monterey, California, and pursued higher education in Criminal Justice. He earned an associate degree from Los Angeles Southwest College in 1980 and continued his studies at UC Dominguez Hills. In 1983 he began a career with the Internal Revenue Service through the Veterans Reassessment Program. He returned to Shreveport in 1985, where he later worked with H&R Block and Southern Security. In 2000 he met Elmarie Redd, who became his devoted partner and was lovingly called “Momma E” by his children.

Billy maintained a deep and lifelong faith. He joined Lonestar Baptist Church at age thirteen and, upon returning to Louisiana, served as a deacon there. In 1999 he became a member of Mary Evergreen Baptist Church, where he faithfully served as a deacon, youth Sunday School teacher, adult men’s Sunday School teacher, choir member, and participant in the male chorus.

Preceded in death by his parents, brothers Claude L. Hunter and Robert Payton, sister Katherine S. Johnson, and oldest son Daryl L. Payton, Billy is survived by his son Darnell Payton, daughter Tanisha Payton, and stepson Cedric Redd (Semina); his siblings Jack Payton, Morris Payton, Maurice Payton, Maggie Cavitt, Aretha Hewitt, Barbara Wilson, and Donna Watkins; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a host of other loving family and friends. When asked recently what he was most proud of in his seventy-eight years, Billy said he was “most grateful for and proud of my children.” His children, in turn, will always be grateful for and proud of the loving, faithful, and steadfast man who was their father.