Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalms 1:1

Thursday, March 27, 2014 Visitation 12:00 pm Service 1:00 pm

St. James Baptist Church 536 West Florida Street Greensboro, North Carolina 27406 Pastor Jerome Lee, Jr. M.Div.

Hollis Robert Payne Jr., (Drag Strip Red) passed away on March 20, 2014 at Moses Cone Hospital, Greensboro, NC. He was born on December 5, 1935 in Rutherfordton, NC. to Hollis Robert Payne, Sr. and Lucy Louise Staley Payne.

Hollis grew up in Rutherfordton County; attending schools in Morganton NC. In 1958 Hollis move to Greensboro, NC. , there he began a new phase of his life.

He attended NC A&T State University where he received a degree in Mechanic Engineering. He began working for P. Lorillard Tobacco Co. and retired after 36 years of service.

Hollis married Geraldine Lilly in 1960 in Greensboro, NC. They were happily married for 54 years. In his early years Hollis attended St. James Baptist Church. He enjoyed working on cars and owned his own auto repair shop. He was an avid race car driver and was known to many as Drag Strip Red. He was an easy-going, kind hearted, free spirited man who always had a smile for everyone he met. A man of few words.

Hollis was preceded in death by his parents, Hollis and Lucy Payne, sister Shirley and brother Raymond Payne.

Hollis leaves to celebrate his memory his wife Geraldine of the home, his daughter Lisa, and his son Lt. Col. Hollis III. all of Greensboro, NC., sister Thelma (Raymond) Fox of Lenior, NC. brother William (Gloria) Payne of Winston-Salem, NC. Brother Wade Nash, sister Cynthia (Rev. Robert) McCain, all of Greensboro, NC and Cassandra (Harold) Watkins of Atlanta, GA. Four (4) Grandchildren, Ja'Mar, (Dawn), Hollis IV, DeAna, and Quaneisha, three great-grandchildren Ja'Mar Jr., Kaila and Jayce. Two sister-in-laws, Helen Hayes, and Rev. Dr. Eva L. Ratliff, one brother-in-law, Rev. Dr. Kenneth Lilly, Sr., all of Greensboro, NC. Two special God sons, William Whitaker Jr., and Curtis Self. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The service will be held at St. James Baptist, 536 West Florida Street, Greensboro, NC 27406 at 1:00 pm. Family will receive friends from 12:00 to 1:00pm. The family will be greeting friends and relatives at 1413 Phifer-Luther Ct. Greensboro, NC. 27406

Services are in trusted to Brown's Funeral Home. 909 E Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27401.