Dr. James R. Payne

Dr. James Roger Payne, DDS, age 72, a longtime resident of Livonia, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2017. He was born December 24, 1944 in Detroit, Michigan; son of Alonzo and Maybell Payne. He was united in marriage to Kathleen Ann Pearl in 1970; they spent over 35 years devoted to one another until her death in 2005. Following service in the United States Army in Vietnam, Jim graduated from the University of Detroit with both his undergraduate degree and a Doctor of Dental Surgery – the first in his family to attend college. He began a family dental practice in downtown Northville in 1981 and was known by his patients as one who would go above and beyond. Feeling strongly that he should use his skills to serve, Dr. Payne often provided free services to those struggling to afford it. He retired in 2011 after thirty years of dedicated service to his patients. A man of varied interests, when Jim would identify a new hobby, he’d dive into it fully. He enjoyed the challenge of becoming an expert at a new thing. Some examples include woodworking, where he appreciated the ability to craft beautiful pieces out of rare woods. He was known for his intricate clocks and barometer sets. Another interest was photography. He focused on capturing the beauty in nature. He also made mats and frames for his artwork. Athletically, Jim enjoyed both playing tennis and bicycling. Over the years, he rode enough miles to circle the equator three times. Jim also founded and ran a non-profit organization called JDS Computers. He would take in used computers from local businesses, clean them, and rebuild them. He would then donate the computers to local charities, churches, and service members overseas. In total, he rebuilt and donated over 5,000 computers. He received numerous accolades for his charitable work: from churches, the federal government, the State of Michigan, Wayne County, and the city of Livonia – which honored him in 2005 with a “First Citizen” award. As a military veteran of Vietnam, he served with distinction and received honors for meritorious service. These include two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. Jim is survived by his son Christopher (Lindsay) Payne; his grandchildren George and Emily; and his companion Carole Luther. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his brother Maurice Payne. A memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, September 17, 2017 from 3pm until 6pm with a service beginning at 6pm at Casterline Funeral Home, 122 West Dunlap, Northville. Rev. William Donahue will officiate the service. He will be laid to rest at Great Lakes National Cemetery on Monday, September 18 at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that you provide gifts to the charity of giver’s choice.