MARIA AGUAYO PAYNE San Diego – Maria Aguayo Payne, 99, of San Diego, Texas, was called home to be with the Lord on April 27, 2023, after a long illness. She was born on July 21, 1923, in Santa Cruz, Texas to Francisco Aguayo and Elvira Vera Aguayo. Mrs. Aguayo Payne was the first woman to serve on a Duval County grand jury in 1975 and was the Democratic Chairman of Duval County Pct. 1 for many years. She retired from Duval County Conservation and Reclamation District as the bookkeeper. Prior to that she was the secretary of the San Diego ISD Follow Through Program. At one time she was the secretary for the late George B. Parr, long-time Duval County political leader when he was county judge. She had also been the secretary for the late Dan Tobin, who was county judge before Parr. She also worked for the county tax assessor-collector, auditor, and treasurer. Maria’s favorite pastime was betting on the Dallas Cowboys. She also enjoyed family and social gatherings, gardening, and spending time with her nephews and nieces. She was a devout Catholic and was known as “the lady with the hat”. She is preceded in death by both parents; ex-husband Albert H. Payne; granddaughter Celine Delorian Rogers; son-in-law Lister Kennedy; sisters Irene A. Perez Jimenez and Maria Antonia Hernandez. She is survived by her daughter Maxine D. Payne-Kennedy of San Diego, Texas. She is also survived by her sister Angelica Aguayo Tobin of Corpus Christi, Texas and numerous nephews and nieces. Special thanks go to Francisco and Sonia Perez, Juan Antonio Perez, and the staff of Compassus, especially Michelle. Much gratitude goes to Silver Mendez, Charles, and Bethany Martinez who devoted their time with Mrs. Aguayo Payne for a year. A visitation was held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at 5 p.m. at Rosas Funeral Home. A Holy rosary was recited at 7 p.m. that same evening. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at St. Francis De Paula Catholic church of San Diego, Texas. Burial will follow at San Diego Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Francisco Perez, Frank Perez, Daniel Perez, Juan Antonio Perez, Juan Antonio Perez Jr., and Francisco Vargas Rosas Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.
