Eddie Hill Payne

Eddie Hill Payne, age 96, of Biloxi, passed away on May 27, 2015.
He was born in Walnut Grove, AL and joined the Army just as WWII broke out. He later switched to the US Air Force and retired as a Senior Master Sergeant with 29 years of service. He served in China during WWII and spent one tour in Vietnam. His first half of military duty was in the communications field with his later half spent as a First Sergeant. He was assigned all over the world, but he kept migrating back to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. After his retirement in 1970, he and his wife, Myrtle, traveled all over the world and extensively throughout the United States. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He built a 32 foot shrimp boat in his back yard and launched it 4 years later. He commercially shrimped the gulf waters for the next 13 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle, and 2 brothers. He is survived by his sister, Mary Winkley, 3 children, Ed Payne, Trisha Mann, and Tommy Payne, Sr., 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday, June 5, 2015, from 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 274 Beauvoir Road, Biloxi. The funeral service will be at 9:30 AM in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be in Biloxi National Cemetery.