Charles Payne
Would hate this …
For an accomplished performer, poet, and all-around clown, Charles had a remarkable talent for avoiding the limelight. Unfortunately for him, we’re going to put him in it anyway, one more time, in celebration of the extraordinary, ridiculous, and deeply loved person he was.
In lieu of cards, flowers, or words of condolence for Liz, please make this a place to celebrate Charles. Share a story, a poem, a photograph, a ridiculous memory, or a moment when Charles made your life, or the world around him, a little more interesting.
And if you feel called to do so, please consider making a donation in Charles’s name to the Art Lit Lab, where he championed artists, taught classes, performed, and helped connect people to one another and to the arts he loved.
April 9, 1985 - Sept. 19, 2026
Charles Edward Payne (nee: Terry IV, 42) of Madison, Wisconsin passed away at his home on Saturday, September 19, 2026. As a beloved husband, son, uncle, and dear friend, he will be greatly missed on a personal level, and as a writer, poet, and social artist, his impact expands even further. His distinct voice will continue to echo in the spaces and places he lived and worked throughout his life, impacting all who met him—either in person or on the page.
Charles was born in Lansing, Michigan to Carolyn and Charles Edward Terry III. He was brought up alongside his younger sister, Tressha Terry, and attended XX elementary school and XX high school. From a young age, Charles’ love of the arts was evident. He participated in theater in junior high school andalways created a stir with his writing – both inside and outside of the classroom. Memorably, he wrote a soap opera-esque sagastarring a conflicted lead character named “Charles Levette” in high school that had the whole school waiting with bated breath for the next installment.
He would also be recognized in high school for his talent on the basketball court, where he stood out as an excellent defensive player and was known for his ability to take charges and play aggressively. His Dad served as his biggest coach and supporter during this time.
Although he showed a lot of promise in basketball and could have continued to play in college, he instead opted to focus on academics, choosing to attend Central Michigan University where he received a full scholarship. Charles’ time at Central remained some of the best times of his life and he often reminisced about his time spent as a Resident Assistant (R.A.), hosting Friends watch parties and helping students feel comfortable on campus. Charles earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Central Michigan and went on to become a junior high science and math teacher.
"I am forever grateful to the strangers of this beautiful city, who later became my friends. They are a constant reminder of everything that I made it through." Charles Payne
