BESSEMER CITY - Lillian Payne Whitworth, 84, died July 3, 2011, at her home.

She was born March 15, 1927, in Gaston County to the late Dorce Howard and Ethel Lena Fuller Payne.

Lillian was a graduate of Bessemer City High School and Gaston Beauty School. She owned and operated Sandie's Beauty Shop in Bessemer City from 1947 until 1967, at which time she developed the cosmetology program at Kings Mountain High School. Lillian taught there and continued her beauty shop until 1989 when she retired.

She was a former Girl Scout leader and a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Bessemer City, where she was a former Sunday school teacher. Lillian was also a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Judean Shrine. Her family wishes to thank Gaston Hospice and her special caregivers for the loving care they provided.

She is survived by her daughter, Sandria Whitworth Stinnett of Surfside Beach, S.C.; son-in-law, R. Gay Stinnett Jr. of Bessemer City; brothers, Howard Payne and wife Johnni of Ormand Beach, Fla., Richard Payne and wife Hillis of Dallas; grandchildren, Edward Ashton Stinnett Sr. and wife Shannon Moss Stinnett of Bessemer City, Adrian Gay Stinnett and wife Nichole Beam Stinnett of Bessemer City, Toscha Stinnett Chandler and husband Chad Chandler of Las Vegas, N.V.; great-grandchildren, Edward Ashton "AJ" Stinnett Jr., Addison Gabriel Stinnett, Hunter Moss Stinnett, Aleczandria Grace Stinnett; numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Bain Whitworth in 2004; stepmother, Ida Moore Payne; brother, Thurman Payne; sisters, Lucille Payne, Fannie Belle Payne White, Virginia Payne Bazoon, Eloise Payne Mabry.

Visitation will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sisk-Butler Funeral Home, Bessemer City.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church, Bessemer City, with the Rev. A.A. Bailey officiating, followed by interment at Bessemer City Memorial Cemetery.