Wanda Stratford

Burlington, NC Wanda Mae Hicks Payne Stratford, 83, of Westbrook Drive, went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 from the Brookshire Nursing Center in Hillsborough. Wanda was born in Forsyth County; the ninth of fourteen children born to Silas A. and Lillie G. Hicks. She graduated from Sedge Garden High School. She retired from Western Electric, where she worked as an accounting assistant. She was a member of Northside Presbyterian Church and enjoyed singing in the choir. She has joined in Heaven her husband, William "Bill" T. Stratford; first husband, Silas J. Payne; son, Joel T. Payne; daughter, Brenda Payne Steele; parents; and, brothers and sisters, Ebah Howell, Odell Hicks, Cosmo Hicks, Eloise Zachery, Gibson Hicks, Durwood Hicks, Lillie Hicks, Rex Hicks, Betty Hoyle, and John Richard Hicks. Wanda is survived by her sons and daughters and grandchildren, Michael and Linda Stratford and Will and Forest of Wilmore, KY; Patricia and Towner Scheffler and Barbara and Ben of Butler, PA; Mark and Gayle Payne and Sarah, Martha, and Hannah of Hillsborough, NC; Loel and Christine Payne and Zachary, Emily, and Angela of Williamsburg, VA; and, Silas Steele of Graham, NC. Also surviving her are sisters, Jackie Wheeler; Jerrie Pardue; and, Doris Spain; sister-in-law, Melba Hicks; and, many nieces and nephews. The funeral service to celebrate Wanda's life will be held on Monday, November 16, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Northside Presbyterian Church by Rev. James Mitchell and the burial will follow at Graham Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 4 until 6 p.m. on Sunday at Lowe Funeral Home and Crematory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 or Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Attn: Tribute Gifts, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780. Please include a note with your gift indicating that it is in honor of Wanda and request that Mark Payne receive an acknowledgement so that the family may extend its gratitude.