ROCKLAND —  Lucille R. Esancy Payson, 96, went home to be with her Lord, Thursday, September 5, 2019 at the Knox Center inRockland, f ollowing a brief illness.

Born in Rockland, July 27, 1923, she was the daughter of Abrose L. and Doris E. Ulmer Melvin. She was a graduate of Rockland High School, class of 1941, where she was a star basketball and softball athlete.

Lucille was named as Miss Rockland in 1941.

She enjoyed hosting the class of 1941 reunion at her home every year.

July 13, 1941, she married Laurence I. Esancy. Together they had two children, Gloria and Larry. Mr. Esancy died in 1948. After being blessed with love again, on November 19, 1948, Lucille married Donald E. Payson. They enjoyed a blended family and were blessed in their union with a son Donald, Jr. and daughter Barbara.

Lucille has long been involved in spreading the message of love, forgiveness and redemption, offered by her Savior, Jesus. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

She was a member of For His Glory Bible Baptist Church in Union.

Other than her parents and first husband, Laurence, Lucille was predeceased by her second husband, Donald Payson, Sr. in 2006; two sons, Laurence I. Esancy in 2014 and Donald Payson, Jr. in 2018, as well as one sister,
Dorothy Hopkins.

She is survived by two daughters and their husband’s, Gloria and Jerry Sharp of Rockland, Barbara LaDue and Richard of Hamlin, NY; a daughter-in-law whom she considered a daughter, Linda Esancy of Rockland; a sister, Faith Reed and her husband Sullivan of Owls Head; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchild, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit Monday, September 9, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, September 10, at 11 a.m., at For His Glory Bible Baptist Church, 92 Butler Road, Union. Pastor Michael Kee will officiate. Interment will follow in Achorn Cemetery, Rockland. A reception will follow at Lucille’s home.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841.

To share a memory or story with Lucille’s family, visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.