Dr. Zelma Allegra Payne of Atlanta, GA, passed January 25, 2026. Funeral service will be held Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 11 a.m. at Friendship Baptist Church, 80 Walnut Street, SW, Reverend Kelly M. Smith, Jr., Pastor, Reverend Dr. Darryl J. Tookes, Eulogist. Interment, Greenwood Serenity Cemetery, Montgomery, AL. The remains will be placed in state at the church at 9:00 a.m. The Ivy Beyond The Wall Ceremony of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. will be at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Public viewing will be on Friday, February 6, 2026 at our chapel from 1 to 5 p.m.

Zelma Allegra Payne, Ph.D.

November 17, 1930 – January 25, 2026

Dr. Zelma Allegra Payne, a pioneering educator and nutrition scientist who dedicated her life to improving health outcomes and advancing the field of nutrition education, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. She was 95 years old.

Born on November 17, 1930, in Montgomery, Alabama, Zelma was the beloved only child of Thelma Naomi Price Payne, a dedicated schoolteacher, and Esco George Payne, a skilled tile contractor. Growing up in Montgomery during a transformative era in American history, she was instilled with values of education, hard work, and service that would shape her remarkable life.

Dr. Payne's commitment to education began early. She graduated from Alabama State Teachers College Laboratory School in Montgomery before embarking on an impressive academic journey. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from Tuskegee University in 1952, followed by a Master of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition from the same institution in 1954. Her pursuit of excellence led her to Cornell University for advanced studies in 1957 and 1958, and she ultimately achieved her Ph.D. in Nutrition Education and Higher Education from Michigan State University.

Throughout her distinguished career spanning several decades, Dr. Payne made significant contributions to nutrition, education and public health. She served as Assistant Professor of Foods and Nutrition at S.C. State College and Spelman College- retiring in 1993, where she inspired countless students. She continued to broadened her leadership and community service through her roles as Assistant Professor and Director of the Graduate Dietetics Program at Emory University School of Medicine, and as Associate Professor and Director of the Nutrition Division at Spelman College. She also served as Research Associate in the Department of Community Medicine and Family Practice at Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Payne retired from Atlanta Public Schools, where she served as Nutrition Coordinator, leaving a lasting impact on the health and well-being of countless students.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Payne was deeply committed to community service and sisterhood. She was a Golden Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and remained active in the Tuskegee University National and Atlanta Alumni Associations. She contributed her expertise to the Georgia Nutrition Council and enriched her community through membership in the Utopian Literary Club and Uplifters Club.

Faith was central to Dr. Payne's life. Baptized at the age of 13 at Day Street Baptist Church in Montgomery, she became a lifelong member of Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta upon joining in 1961, where she remained a devoted member for 65 years.

Dr. Payne’s scholarly contributions were significant and wide-ranging. Her research focused on the intersection of nutrition, cultural practices, and public health, particularly in underserved communities. She conducted a Summer Training Program in Hypertension at Emory University (1977-1978), investigating the use of folk medicine among Black populations attending the Hypertension Clinic at Grady Hospital in Atlanta.

Her publications include:

Payne, Zelma A., Ph.D., “Effect of Methionine and Vitamin B-12 Supplementation on the Nitrogen Metabolism of Adult Male Rats.” Master’s Thesis, Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama. Thesis Abstract: Federation Proceedings 1955.

Payne, Zelma A., Ph.D., “Related Differences in Academic Counseling As they Exist or Believed to Exist among Second Year Students in Three Selected Community Colleges.” Dissertation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 1971.

Payne, Zelma A., Ph.D., and W. Dallas Hall, M.D., Emory University, “Folk Medicine Practices in the Control of Hypertension.” Journal of Preventive Medicine, March 1978.

Payne, Zelma A., Ph.D., and W. Dallas Hall, M.D., Emory University, “The Effect of ‘Antihypertensive Folk Medicine’ on the Dietary Intake of Minerals in the Elderly.” Journal of Preventive Medicine, March 1979; Vol. 8, Academic Press, New York.

Payne, Zelma A., Ph.D., “The Influence of Cultural Patterns on Medical Management.” Journal of Urban Health Vol. 9, No. 10, December 1980, Atlanta, Georgia.

Payne, Zelma A., Ph.D., “Diet and Cardiovascular Disease: The Morbid Connection.” Journal of Medical Association of Georgia, January 1985.

Payne, Zelma A., Ph.D., “Preparation of Guidelines and Procedures for Volunteer Services.” Prepared for Southwest Hospital and Medical Center, April 2003, Atlanta, Georgia.

Payne, Zelma A., Ph.D., Adelaide, Had a Dream, and She Lived It. Montgomery, Alabama, 2018.

Her excellence was recognized through numerous honors and awards. She was a co-founder and charter member of the Food and Nutritional Sciences Advisory Board at Tuskegee University, received the Alumni Merit Award from Tuskegee University, and was honored with the Atlanta Tuskegee Alumni Pioneer Award. She served on the committee for the restoration of White Hall and was a fundraiser for the Tuskegee University Choir’s CD recording. Dr. Payne was named an NCBW Honoree by 100 Black Women, Inc., Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter, receiving the “Unsung Heroines Award” at its tenth anniversary. She was honored by Friendship Baptist Church on Women’s Day for her outstanding service and received the Booker T. Washington Education Achievement Award from Tuskegee University.

Dr. Payne’s commitment to service extended to state and international levels. She served as a member of Governor Jimmy Carter’s Commission on Malnutrition and Hunger in the State of Georgia. Her international experiences included participation in the Federation of Home Economics in Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Northern Thailand in 1996. She traveled to South America in 1975 as part of an exchange program between Pernambuco and Atlanta established by Governor Jimmy Carter, visiting Recife, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, and Bahia. She also traveled to West Africa, including Abidjan, the Ivory Coast, and Senegal, and to the Virgin Islands. At Southwest Hospital, she volunteered in emergency services and served as a greeter and fundraiser.

Dr. Payne maintained active membership in numerous professional and civic organizations, including the Association of University Women, and served as a board member of the Food and Nutrition Program at Tuskegee University. She was recognized as an Eminent Associate of Tuskegee University and contributed her time to the tutorial program for M.A. Jones Elementary students, reflecting her dedication to nurturing the next generation.

Dr. Payne was preceded in death by her darling mother, Thelma Naomi Price Payne (August 28, 1993) and loving father, Esco George Payne (March 15, 1994).

**Dr. Payne is survived by the families of her distant cousins—Rhonda English and Ronald English in California—and her surrogate sons, Rondell Worthem and James Page Brown of Atlanta. Also surviving are a host of loving friends whom she cherished to the end.

Dr. Zelma Allegra Payne’s legacy lives on through the generations of students she mentored, the communities she served, and the field of nutrition education she helped advance. Her life exemplified excellence, dedication, and service. She will be missed and remembered by everyone who knew and cared for her.

**A special acknowledgement is extended to several friends – Rev. Sylvia Johnson, Mrs. Henrietta Antonin, Mrs. Laura A. Brown, Dr. Chandra Hall & Mrs. Judy Arrington - who had a personal role of care and support for Zelma.