The Rev. Edd Lee Payne, retired priest of the Diocese of New York, died March 21 at the age of 74.

Fr. Payne was born in Dallas, TX. He graduated from Rice University in 1942 and General Theological Seminary in 1949. He was ordained priest in 1949. Fr. Payne served in Atlanta and New Boston, TX; New York City, Valhalla, and Chappaqua, NY; and Newark, NJ. He retired in 1987. Fr. Payne is survived by his wife, Mary, and a daughter, the Rev. Teresa Payne Gocha.