Cheryl Anne Payne

It is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to Cheryl Anne Payne, 67, of Ellicott City, Maryland. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 16, 2024. Cheryl was born on November 25, 1956 in Silver Spring, Maryland to Patricia A. Payne and William H. Payne, joining her brother Bruce and sister Pamela for a loving family of five.

Cheryl, affectionately dubbed Woo by her family, walked through life with a gentle strength. Her dedication to family and those fortunate enough to be called friends never dimmed. Woo’s thoughtfulness shone through in many ways. Every year on our family vacations, she would arrive with an armload of sweet treats and a homemade movie or two of our previous get-togethers. We laughed at ourselves until our sides ached.

Cheryl’s accomplishments were driven by a strong work ethic and sense of fairness. She pursued a career in regional banking for over 30 years, attaining the positions of Senior Investment Advisor and Vice President in the DMV region. Her efforts were recognized with awards for excellence in service, management, mentorship and sales. After retirement, she worked in the Bakery at Harris Teeter Market, where she honed her baking skills, to the delight of her loved ones.

Cheryl’s favorite things to do in her spare time included horseback riding, fishing, boating, birdwatching, driving her latest sporty car, and working with stained glass. She was a talented artist who designed and crafted beautiful pieces, many of which were gifted to and cherished by family and friends. But above all, Woo was a gentle soul who loved animals, especially her dogs Bonnie, Sugar and Riannon (and yes, Woo was an avid Stevie Nicks fan).

Cheryl’s grace of spirit and warm smile will be remembered long after her passing. She was preceded in death by her parents, William H. Payne, Jr. and Patricia A. Payne and aunt Louise (Weeze) Parmer; survived by her partner Lisa Dawson, brother W. Bruce Payne and his wife Susan, sister Pamela P. Shelton and her husband Edgar, niece Jessica L. Kraus and her husband John, nephew Jonathan E. Payne and his wife Jessica, nephew William M. Fisher, niece Ana C. Aixala, niece Isabella Dawson, grand-nieces Allison N. Kraus, Katherine A. Kraus and Frankie Villanueva, brothers-in-law Scott Dawson and Marshall Dawson, and dear friend Linda Dawkins.

The family will receive friends for a celebration of Cheryl’s life on Saturday, July 13 from 2:00 – 5:00 PM at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick. Your thoughts and prayers are more than enough, but if you would like to make a donation in Cheryl’s name, you might consider The American Liver Foundation.