William Henri Payne, Noted Black Educator, Dies at 83

William Henri Payne, a retired director of admissions at San Diego State University’s School of Education, died in his Del Cerro home Saturday night. He was 83.

Payne died of cancer after a three-month illness, a family friend said.

Born in Lynchburg, Va., Payne was educated at Virginia Union and New York universities, and served as an education adviser with the Civilian Conservation Corps before moving to San Diego in 1942.

During World War II, Payne was director of USO activities here. In 1945, he became the second black educator to be offered a teaching contract in San Diego, a family spokeswoman said.

He taught English and became administration coordinator for remedial education for San Diego city schools before taking the position at SDSU’s School of Education in 1968. He retired in 1976.

Since then he had been active with the Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Paul, serving as a delegate to a diocese convention and as chairman of the presiding bishop’s fund. He was serving as the first bishop’s warden for the local cathedral chapter at the time of his death.

His civic activities and memberships included the American Red Cross, Episcopalian Community Services, California Assn. of School Administrators, the YMCA and the California Retired Teachers Assn.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Fannie Lois Jeffries; a cousin, Austin Higganbotham of Los Angeles, and three brothers-in-law, John, George and Thomas Jeffries.

Viewing at the Greenwood Mortuary will be from 4 to 9 p.m. today and Tuesday. Services will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul at noon Wednesday.

The family has requested that any donations be sent to the San Diego Hospice of Corp. and the Memorial Fund for the Cathedral of St. Paul.