Winnie Hancock's Obituary
Winnie Hancock, age 88 of Scottsboro, passed away on Friday, September 15, 2017.
On September 20, 1928 in Rising Fawn, Georgia, a baby was born that would become an amazing person. Martha Winniefred Payne was born to Edgar Thomas Payne and Charlesie Elizabeth Easter Wellborn Payne. She was the youngest girl to be born in a family of 17 children. She was the last living child of Easter and Edgar, which now ends a generation.
Winnie, as they called her, was raised in a farmhouse in Macedonia. Her family made its living farming in the 1930s. She loved her brothers and sisters with all her heart, and they all stayed close as long as they lived. As one of the younger children, she stayed home to help with the cooking and delivered food to the others as they worked in the fields. She told of their after school snack being a cold biscuit and an onion and said that they were happy to get this. At Christmas they all received an apple, an orange, and some peppermint candy. Remember, this was the recovery of the depression era.
She attended school at Macedonia School as a child and later she went to high school at Jackson County High School in Scottsboro.
A cherished memory of hers was when one of her older brothers bought her a dress for the prom. The fabric was blue and white print with white flowers. She went with a lifetime friend whom she ended up living less than a mile from later in life.
She dated and later married the love of her life, Clebert Hancock, and became Mrs. Winnie Hancock. She spoke about how their dates were spent walking to church because in those days “there was nothing else to do”. They went in groups, and she always talked about how much fun they had. When Clebert and Winnie were first married, they did not have a car. However, they did possess a tractor, which was their main mode of transportation for a while. When she married, Winnie gained another family – the Hancock’s. They loved her, and she loved each one of them. They stayed close as long as they lived.
After two years of marriage, she gave birth to her firstborn – Sandra. Two years later Laura came, and Beverly was born two years following. It was another six years before Darlene was born, and Angie was born 19 months later. Winnie was a devoted mother to each one of her girls. She worked hard to make sure that they had what they needed and knew right from wrong. She taught them to work and to take care of themselves. She loved them with all her heart.
For 30 years she was employed at Dover Mills, where she had many loving friends. After her retirement she enjoyed life at her home in Henagar, where she had many caring neighbors, all who loved her dearly. She once forgot to pay her garbage bill, and a street department worker came to take her garbage can. One of the neighborhood boys was going to fight him to keep him from taking her garbage can. He told the worker, “You are not taking Mrs. Winnie’s garbage can!” Winnie never liked confrontation, so she calmed down the neighbor and wrote a check for her bill so that she could keep the garbage can and keep peace in the neighborhood.
Her front yard was the one that little neighborhood children congregated in to play. When they got hungry, she would give them peanut butter and crackers and orange juice. Winnie always welcomed her daughters’ friends into her home, and they loved her and still ask about her until this day.
She loved her sons-in-law like they were her own. All of her nieces and nephews on both sides of the family were so special to her. She loved them and was always happy to see them. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren made Winnie fall in love all over again. She adored each one and was an important role model in their lives.
As Winnie got older, she moved to Scottsboro to be closer to family and friends. She missed her neighbors, but was happy to be close to her children and grandchildren.
Winnie had many special friends and family. She made friends easily because she had a genuine love for people, evident by her smile and actions. Someone once said, “Either you love Winnie or you really love Winnie.”
Winniefred, Winnie, Winniefreddy, Pooh, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, wife, mother, Granny, aunt, and friend – she had many names. The most important name she has is Child of the Most High God. She was a devout Christian and lived her life in a way that showed it. She drove from Henagar to Central Baptist Church for many years to worship.
What an honor to have known, loved, and been loved by Martha Winniefred Payne Hancock.
She is survived by her children, Sandra Brown, Laura and Charles Bowen, Beverly Hancock, Darlene Hancock, and Angie and Mark Carter; grandchildren, Starla and Rodney Bowling, Brandon Hancock, Jason and Melissa Bowen, Lynde and Rob Mann, Andrea and Johnny Okwu, Shana Brooke Wheeler, Colby and Kristen Gann, Jessie and Rusty Varner, and Heath Carter; great-grandchildren, Ashlyn Evans, Alyssa Evans, Austin French, Oakleigh Bowen, Avery Okwu, Brock Varner, Aiden Varner, and Cameron Varner.
The family would like to thank all of the friends and relatives that are here today and anyone that has taken time to visit, send cards, make a phone call, or say a prayer. Special thanks goes to her caregivers, Jamie Varner, Martha Maness, Jane Hancock, Becky Varner, and Alyssa Evans; Dr. Brad Bradford and staff; and Alacare Hospice. These people made Winnie’s life so much easier and happier toward the end. They not only cared for her but they love her and she loved them in return.
The family of Winnie will receive friends from 6-8pm on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Rudder Funeral Home in Scottsboro. The funeral service will be Sunday, September 17 at 2pm in the funeral home chapel, with Bro. Ronnie Day officiating, and burial to follow at Pleasant View Cemetery. Condolences may be made at www.rudderfuneralhomes.com.
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