Richard James "Ricky" Payne was born on November 25, 1957, in Columbia, Alabama, to the late Johnnie Bell Payne. He accepted Christ at an early age and united with First Missionary Baptist Church of Columbia, Alabama, where he was lovingly guided in faith by his grandparents, the late Deacon Albert Payne and Johnnie Payne.

Ricky was educated in the Columbia School System and later attended Houston County High School in Columbia, Alabama. He proudly served in the United States Army, where he earned the M16 Bronze Award for Marksmanship.

In 1983, Ricky married Marie Buze, and to this union three children were born.

He was employed for many years as a truck driver with Pete Lee of Columbia, Alabama, and later with Qualico Steel, where he also worked in maintenance.

Ricky had a natural gift for auto mechanics and was known throughout the community for his willingness to help others. It was not uncommon for someone to arrive at his doorstep saying they had been told, "Ricky Payne can fix it"—and without hesitation, he always did.

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, God saw Ricky's struggles and gently called him home.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his devoted wife, Marie Payne; his children, Adam Payne (Mya) of Ammon, Jordan; Alicia Payne of Montgomery, Alabama; and Darrell Payne (Aliyah) of Sterling, Virginia; his grandchildren, Asa Alexander Payne and Ronan Marshall Payne; his siblings, Carolyn Reynolds (Thomas) of Newville, Alabama, Michael Lampkin (Pam) of Dothan, Alabama, and Zimberlist Lorenzo Lewis (Tasha) of Detroit, Michigan; his sister-in-law, Diane Bradley of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and brother-in-law, Grady Buze (Brenda) of Columbia, Alabama; two goddaughters, Seneatha Renee Oliver and Vanessa Williams Freeman; special cousins, Jimmy Blackmon, Raymond Kennedy and Lucy B. Kennedy; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will forever remember his kindness and love.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Deacon Albert and Johnnie Payne; his mother, Johnnie Bell Payne; and his brother, Gerald Lewis.