Obituary of Rev. Velma Lois Payne Orr

Rev. Velma Lois Payne Orr, 87, of the Grassy Branch community went home to be with Jesus on Friday, February 14, 2020. Born to the late Estes J. and Nina Reese Payne on March 21, 1932 in Wayne, MI, she was the pastor of the Evangelistic Tabernacle for 58 years with her late husband, Rev. Harold J. Orr and son, Rev. Harold Jerry Orr. She worked at Holiday Inn of Cherokee as Guest Service Manager for many years. She was a pastor/counselor for many years and was as nice at 2:00 am as she was at 2:00 pm. She was a graduate of Swain County High School and attended South Western Community College. She was ordained December 7, 1981 by Fundamental Pentecostal and Charismatic Believers under Rev. H. Richard Hall. She also had and Honorary Doctor of Theology Degree from Bethel Bible College from Dr. James Cochran. She loved reading and studying the Bible, teaching the word and praying for others and loved family gatherings during the Holidays. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She was a loving, devoted mother as well as a spiritual mother to many. She smiled a lot, loved everyone and never met a stranger. She loved her little church and the church family. We rejoice in knowing she is with the Lord, her family and friends. If you know Jesus, you will be reunited with her in Heaven. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years and best friend, Rev. Harold J. Orr who passed away February 12, 2008; brothers, Dempsey Payne, Billy Joe Payne; and step mother, Estelene Payne. She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Lois Orr Craig and husband Kevin Joe Craig; sons, Rev. Harold Jerry Orr and wife Anita Marie C. Orr, Teddy Walter Orr and wife Tammy A Stephenson Orr; grandchildren, Lori Elizabeth Craig Blainey and husband Scott W. Blainey, Staff Sergeant Benjamin H Craig and wife Nichole G. Craig, Jacob A Craig, Chancy Orr Tsoumbos and husband Thomas A. Tsoumbos, Megan A. Orr Sheets and husband Eric J. Sheets, Joshua Crisp, Kelley Brown Cloer and husband Cody Cloer, Jennifer Brown Mazur, Adam R. Orr, Logan Orr and wife Lisa Orr; great grandchildren, Emma Clara Blainey, Malaki M. Craig, Sophia Kirkland, Lelon Cloer, Chance Gregg, Matthew Gregg, Kalaina Craig, and Matthias Craig. Also surviving are her sisters, Gladys Bryan of Michigan, Millie Myers of Michigan, Ruth Ashe of Bryson City; brother, John Payne of North Carolina; many nieces, nephews, lots of friends, and her special prayer partners, Vickie Clum and Renea Jordan. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, February 19, 2020 in the chapel of Crisp Funeral Home. Rev. Harold Jerry Orr and Rev. Anita Marie C. Orr will officiate with burial in the Laurel Branch Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 am Wednesday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Adam Orr, Lagan Orr, Jacob Craig, Scott Blainey, Josh Crisp and her nephew, James Orr.