Anthony 'Tony' Payne, loyal firefighter

Anthony B. Payne “Tony”, 56, of Clayton, passed away Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, at Bay Health Center - Kent in Dover. He was born July 21, 1959, in Danville, Va., son of Otha B. Payne of Salisbury, Md. and Mildred "Peggy" A. (Ludwick) Mowery of Smyrna.

Following graduation from Smyrna High School, Tony held many positions throughout the years working for Metal Masters, Reichhold Chemical, Scott Ballard Electricians, the Horace Pugh family, Parsell Funeral Homes and Prime Care.

A devoted volunteer and life member of the Citizens' Hose Company of Smyrna, he had held positions encompassing fire line positions as lieutenant and captain and on the executive branch side, serving as president, several terms on the board of directors, as fire recorder, as trustee and assistant trustee and was a recipient for several years of the Calvin E. Foxwell Memorial Award presented by the department and was a trumpeter in the fire company band.

Tony attended 3C USA in Smyrna and was generous to a fault, always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. Good times hunting or four wheeling in Delaware or Pennsylvania with his friends were some of his most memorable moments.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his father’s wife, Carol and his mother’s husband, David; his brother, Doug Payne and wife Pam of Seaside, Calif.; two nieces, Marlee Grounds and husband Adam and Shawnna Hill; his nephew, Paul Payne; and a great nephew, Jackson Grounds; his special little buddy, Jimmy; many cousins and extended family in Virginia as well as many devoted friends; and his two canine companions Poty and Casie.

Funeral Services with Firefighter Honors will be held Saturday, Dec.19, at 11 a.m., at the Citizens' Hose Company, No. 1, 103 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, where a viewing will begin at 10 a.m.. A viewing will also be held Friday, from 7 to  9 p.m., at the Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, 123 W. Commerce St., Smyrna.

Burial will follow the services at the Glenwood Cemetery, 20 W. Mount Vernon St., Smyrna.

Memorial contributions in Tony’s memory may be made to the Citizens' Hose Company, No. 1, Inc., 103 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, DE 19977.

Please visit Mr. Payne's Life Memorial Webpage and sign the online guest book at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.