PAYNE, Neil A.

On the morning of October 16, 2022, Neil Payne, Chief of the Stockton Volunteer Fire Company, was in the Command Car when he suffered a medical emergency. Chief Payne was able to radio for help and attempted to render aide to himself. Responding crews arrived to find Chief Payne semi-conscious but his condition quickly deteriorated into cardiac arrest and was transported to Tidal Health Peninsula Regional Medical Center. Sadly, the valiant efforts provided by Fire & EMS personnel and of medical center staff were unsuccessful and Chief Payne was pronounced deceased at the very hospital in which he was born. Neil Payne joined the Stockton Volunteer Fire Company on January 7, 1986 and just 6 years later was elected as Fire Chief, a position he held and for which he faithfully served, for the better part of 30 consecutive years, earning Chief Payne the distinction of being the longest serving Fire Chief in Worcester County. Chief Neil Payne was the heart and soul of the Stockton Volunteer Fire Company. He was looking forward to the arrival of the recently ordered new fire engine, and to the upcoming 100^th anniversary celebration of the Stockton VFC. Most importantly, Neil was a loving husband to his wife of 38 years, Dawn; a devoted father to his daughter Shelby Heiser and his son Brock Payne, who followed in his Dad’s footsteps, becoming a member of Stockton and serving as the Rescue Captain; and of course the proud grandfather of Wesley and Kinsley Heiser, who he dearly loved and who were his pride and joy. Neil’s passing is a huge loss to his family, to his fire company family, and to the citizens he served for nearly four decades; but, as Neil would say “ one clown doesn’t shut down the circus.” So, we honor him by getting back to the job of protecting Worcester County and Northern Accomack County, VA. Chief Neil Alan Payne was 59 years old and had faithfully served in Fire & EMS for 36 years.