Gail W Payne

Born in St. Petersburg, FL, on April 10, 1936, the second of six children born to Dorothy and Weyman Willingham, Gail lived her life with a limitless spirit of curiosity and adventure. Always a lover of sports, Gail played sports as a teenager and would leave school early to get autographs of her favorite Cardinals’ baseball player, Stan Musial, at spring training. She found her passion for public schools at St. Petersburg High School, went on to attend Randolph Macon Women’s College, and then graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, developing an unwavering devotion to her beloved Tarheels. Her adventures continued when she began her career teaching in Japan, and later returned to St. Pete and earned her pilot’s license and managed a hotel: all before the age of 25 and all out-of-the-ordinary for a woman of the time. She moved to Coral Gables in 1964 with her husband, R.W. “Buddy” Payne, Jr. (divorced, 1998), and developed deep and lasting relationships in South Florida.

Gail’s steadfast devotion was placed on family, her new community, and friends. If she noticed something that could be positively impacted by her energy, she was all in. She adopted the University of Miami athletic programs, tutoring student athletes, and attending football, baseball, and basketball games for many decades. To support school desegregation in the early 1970s, she and Arva Moore Parks helped create the Summertime II Program, connecting children and families from Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. Wanting church to be a place where teenagers were happy to spend time to learn about love and kindness, she became one of the co-leaders of the Youth Group at Coral Gables United Methodist Church. Seeing a lack of funding in the public school system, she started a photography company with her dear friend Marilyn West, taking athlete’s pictures and donating the proceeds to the Coral Gables High School Athletic Department. She hosted years of fundraisers at her home, and created a 10K road race, all to support her passion and commitment to public education.

As time passed, and her immediate family grew to include fifteen grandchildren, Gail came to be known as “Cita” by the next generation. Her remarkable energy never waned. As a College Advisory Counselor for first, South Miami High and then, Coral Gables High, she inspired countless students with her warmth, wisdom and encouragement for over 30 years. One said, “She gave me courage to do things I didn’t believe I could do.” When she wasn’t working, anyone who knew Gail would look first on the sidelines of the Coral Gables Youth Center fields. She cheered on her children and then grandchildren at soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, and swimming competitions and never missed a moment to photograph awards ceremonies, school plays and family events. Her energy was limitless: she ran a marathon; she jogged and bicycled on the streets of Coral Gables; she was a scuba-diver; she took multiple classes a day at the Biltmore gym and pool; and she traveled with family and friends.

Gail will be remembered by her children for her unconditional love and support, the welcoming home she created for all their friends, and the example she set with her beautiful values of humanity and generosity. She always thought about others, before herself. Her grandchildren will treasure memories of playing board games, mystery cookies, sleepovers, countless trips and holiday gatherings, fruit before dessert, quilts, matching cousin pajamas, handmade Christmas stockings, and so much more. Her countless friends of all ages will remember her easy laugh and positive, enthusiastic attitude. Her memory will continue to inspire us to live fully, love fiercely, and embrace the adventures life has to offer.

Gail passed after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and her family is grateful to Maria Fernandez who was her devoted and loving caregiver for many years. Gail’s passing was preceded in death by her son Cameron, when he was 11 years old. She is survived by her remaining four children, Darrell (Debbie), Preston (Rob), Darby (Tim), and Clinton (Laura), and her siblings, Weyman Willingham (Jan) and Wendy Scott (Paul), along with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Gail’s Celebration of Life will be held at the Congregational Church of Coral Gables, on November 3rd, 2024, at 2:00 pm where she found love, support and a shared belief in doing good and accepting others without reservation. An open house to celebrate Gail’s life will be held after the service from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the home of Darby and Tim Plummer, 935 Castile Plaza, Coral Gables.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that Gail’s memory be honored with a donation to “Friends of Gables High”, through the Coral Gables Community Foundation, so that her lifelong support of public education and her local community will continue.