Mary Bell Payne, 55, of Pearisburg departed this life Thursday evening February 16, 2006 at Giles Memorial Hospital in Pearisburg after a long illness. Born in Giles County on June 30, 1950 she was a daughter of the late Harless and Lula Bell Lawson Ratcliffe. She was preceded in death by a son Thomas Payne and a brother Paul Lee Ratcliffe.

She leaves to cherish her memory two sons and a daughter-in-law Larry Payne of Pearisburg and Eric and April Payne of Pearisburg; two brothers Bobby Lee Ratcliffe of Pearisburg and Arthur Lee Ratcliffe of Pembroke; five grandchildren Matthew, Nicole, Carla, A J, and Hunter Lee.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 11:00 AM at the Kendall Funeral Home, 605 Snidow St. in Pembroke with Pastor Darin Whitten officiating. Burial will follow in the Lawson Cemetery at Pembroke. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday evening from 6 to 8 PM.