Ms. Dorothy Nevelle Stevens Payne "Dardanelle"

Dorothy Nevelle Stevens Payne "Dardanelle", age 82, of Preston passed away Saturday, February 8, 2025 at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Preston Baptist Church. Rev. Raymond Smith and Rev. Chris Hess will officiate the service. Interment will follow at Preston City Cemetery. The family will greet friends following the service at the cemetery. Dorothy was born March 6, 1942 in Preston, GA. She was the daughter of the late Benjamin Worthy Stevens and the late Olive Nevelle Coker Stevens. She earned a Master's in Education. She taught school in Stewart County and Webster County until her retirement. Dorothy was a member of Preston Baptist Church. Survivors include her daughter, Samantha Willis of Preston; two sons and daughters-in-law, Brian Christopher Payne (Jennifer) of Parrott, Ga. and Andrew Murray Payne (Lori) of Weston, Ga. Dorothy is also survived by five grandchildren, Trey Robinson (Erica) of Americus, Mikayla Willis of Americus, Olivia Bivins...