Nancy Ann Payne Burgess

Nancy Ann Payne (Rawls) Burgess was born in Abington Memorial Hospital on November 9, 1927. She was the oldest daughter of Douglass L. Payne and Conrad Conston Payne. Nancy would later marry the late Samuel (“Tim”) Rawls around 1955. Although they later divorced, they and their families remained close for many years. In 1964, she remarried briefly to Henry Burgess whom she followed to Germany, where she remained until her retirement.

Nancy accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Salem Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. W. J. Lucas.  Her long working career with the U. S. government began directly after her graduation from Jenkintown High School in 1945 and lasted 43 years, 23 of which were spent working in the U. S. Embassy in Bonn, Germany, living in the Bad Godesberg section of that city. While living in Europe, Nancy traveled extensively to various countries, including Spain and Portugal. She enjoyed attending Formula 1 racing events in various countries as well. She maintained several great friendships with co-workers and German citizens over the years, and would often call them on her visits home, speaking to them in fluent German! This even continued after she retired in 1988 and returned to live stateside.

Nancy loved her family and loved her pets. She loved her friends and consistently stayed in touch with them. She was also the family event cameraman! She had to make sure that she took pictures of every holiday gathering dinner table and every family birthday display. She also kept busy with a list of friends and acquaintances that she called weekly just to check on them. She stayed somewhat physically active playing tennis weekly into her late 70s. However, as time passed and her mobility became severely compromised, she eventually entered Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in February of 2023 until it was time for her to transition to her heavenly mansion on January 12, 2024.

Nancy leaves to cherish her memory, her niece, Nancy Wendra Campbell; her great-niece, Aisha Victoria Campbell; her great-nephew, Timothy Douglass Campbell; three nephews, Robert Lee Byars, Jr., Steven Lee Byars, Sr., and Mark Allen Byars, Sr.; one niece, Sheena L. Johnson; a host of cousins and many friends.

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