Mary Alice Lawson Jones Payne

Mary Alice (Lawson) Jones Payne of Bryant was called home by her Heavenly Father on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the age of 92. She was currently living at the Manor Senior Living Community where she cared for many and was loved by all.

Mary Alice was born on April 22, 1931, in North Little Rock, Arkansas to Theodore Pearl Lawson and Minnie Beatrice (Stapp) Lawson of North Little Rock. Mary Alice attended North Little Rock Ole Main High School. She worked at National Old Line Insurance Company for many years, and at Systematics as a data processor for many more years. She was proud of the fact that she was one of the first nine employees at Systematics, which eventually became Alltel, where she retired from.

Mary Alice was a member of Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Benton, where she was the treasurer for many years. She loved to read her Bible, daily devotionals, and pray for and with others whenever she was given the chance.

Mary Alice was also a proud member of the Saline County Chapter #2245 Women of the Moose, where she held many honors and degrees and contributed to making a difference in the community that she held dear to her heart.

Mary Alice was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, and aunt. She loved her family and friends passionately and cherished every moment spent with them. She was a kind and gentle spirit and leaves behind a legacy of love and kindness that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Mary Alice is reunited in peace with her parents, Theodore Pearl Lawson and Minnie Beatrice (Stapp) Lawson; her beloved husband, Willis Henry Payne; stepson, Bradley Payne; sisters, Helen Dey and Carolyn Brown; and brother, Theodore Lawson Jr.

Mary Alice is survived by her daughter, Alice (Bill) Withers; son, Darrel Jones (Pamela); stepson, Michael (Sandy) Payne; grandchildren, Chad (Jennifer) Withers, Katelin Jones, and Reyn Jones; step grandchildren, Scott Payne, John (Toniann) Payne, Michael Payne, and Greg Payne; great-grandchildren, Leighton Withers and Carson Withers; step great-grandchildren, Rochelle, Lily, Emma, and Jake Payne and her little Mr. Payne
Cameron; 6 nieces, Cindy (Joe) Perez, Terri (Jeff) White, Vicki Terrell, Jeannie (Paul) Hunt, Bea (Darryl) Kruse, and Karen Thompson; one nephew, Brent Dey; along with numerous other family members and close friends, and of course her beloved fur baby, Teddy Boy.

Services to honor Mary Alice’s life will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Smith Benton Funeral Home. The address is 322 N. Market St. in Benton, AR. Visitation will be at 9:00 am followed by the funeral service at 10:00 am. The burial will take place at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, Arkansas at 12:00 pm.

In memory of Mary Alice, donations can be made to Mount Vernon Baptist Church or Saline County Humane Society and may be made through the funeral home. Arrangements for Mary Alice are entrusted to Smith Benton Funeral Home.