Uncrowned Community Builders

Thomas W. Payne was the patriarch of a family that produced a number of members who are Uncrowned Queens and Kings, having been extremely contributory to the development of Buffalo's Black community. Thomas was a native of Richmond, Virginia and the 1880 census gives his date of birth as about 1840. According to his granddaughter, he came to Buffalo as a child with his mother. She was a widow who was looking for a better life for her son.

He married Grace L. Thompson, a Buffalo native and member of an early settler family. It was said that her parents Nimrod and Elizabeth Meyers Thompson traveled to Buffalo on a boat on the Erie Canal. A newspaper article from May 1, 1941 reported the Payne's celebration of their 63rd anniversary. The couple revealed that they had been married when they were 21 and 16 respectively. The article also described the Payne home at 198 Laurel, which they had purchase when the street was still very rural. Mr. Payne had done the work to transform the small structure to a two story home at the time of the anniversary celebration.

Thomas Payne worked as a clerk at the Pierce World Dispensary & Medical Association for 49 years. During that time, he's also supported his father-in-law's catering business taking over several contracts. He was also active in Buffalo's socio-political world. The Payne families were dedicated members of St. Philip's Episcopal Church.

The Payne's had three children, Clara, who became the first black Social worker in the City; son, Earle who graduated from University at Buffalo Dental Schools, the first African American dentist and Madeline. His granddaughter, Lanora Robinson was one of the first Black women from Buffalo to become a WAC (Women's Army Corps) and longtime Buffalo teacher.

Mr. Payne died on February 14, 1945 and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery. He was 87 years old. Mrs. Payne also died in 1945, August 2nd at the age of 83.