Doris B. Payne, 95, of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away peacefully December 26th, 2025. A retired Delaware school teacher, she was born in Wilmington where she attended George Gray School, Warner Jr. High School, and Wilmington High School, graduating in the class of 1948. She attended the University of Delaware, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in 1952, and a Master’s Degree in Education in 1961. Mrs. Payne taught elementary school in the Claymont and Brandywine school districts for 27 and a half years, retiring in 1985. During her early retirement years, she volunteered at the Neighborhood House, and taught English as a second language at Aldersgate Church.
Mrs. Payne had a wide variety of interests. She was an avid stitcher, and was a member of the Brandywine Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, where she served on the board for many years, and is a past president. She was a docent at Hagley Museum, and a member of the Master Gardeners. She enjoyed reading, gardening, and writing, and participated in a variety of courses at the University of Delaware. Mrs. Payne was a certified Master Beekeeper, and a member of the Eastern Agricultural Society. She and her husband, George, demonstrated beekeeping at the Delaware Cultural Museum, the Delaware Nature Society, and a number of local schools and organizations.
She was a member of Aldersgate Church for many years, where she served as a member of the Board of Trustees, the United Methodist Women, and the Altar Guild. She sang with the chancel choir from 1955 until 2022. She was predeceased by her husband, George Payne, her son, George Burgomaster, and her sister, Dorothy Hurst. She is survived by her son, David Burgomaster, his wife, Joy, and their three children, Diana, Evan and Jenna, two great grandchildren, Ella and Layla, a niece, Cindy Belezyh and her husband, Walter, their four children and grandchildren, a step-daughter, Susan Payne, and a step-son, Robert Payne.
A funeral service will be held at Aldersgate Methodist Church, 2313 Concord Pike in Wilmington Delaware, on Monday, January 5th, at 12 PM, friends and family may begin calling at 1130 AM. Burial will be held afterwards at Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N Dupont Hwy in New Castle Delaware.
