Nov 1, 2018 Orange County Review
Note: On Oct. 20, the Orange County African-American Historical Society (OCAAHS) held its first awards banquet to a sold-out crowd.
The OCAAHS recognized five outstanding individuals this year for their extraordinary work in sharing and sustaining African-American history in Orange County. For each of the previous four weeks, this column has showcased one of the recipients. This week, we recognize Clara Ellis Payne.
Clara Ellis Bailey Payne was born in Orange on July 13, 1921. She was the last of her family to be born in “the old home place,” RFD Route 3, Box 19. The area was called Christianburg at that time and was on Lahore Road. Payne’s parents were Moses and Eliza Ellis Bailey. After her birth, her parents moved to New York City because there were more jobs available there for African-Americans.
Initially, Payne was left in Orange to be raised temporarily by her maternal grandparents, Frank and Polly Ellis. After her grandparents died in 1929, she was taken to New York to be with her parents and two younger siblings. Almost every summer, the family would return to Orange for visits and to worship at the family church, Emanuel Baptist Church.
Although she grew up in New York City and eventually got a position at New York City College as a secretary, her childhood home was always in the recesses of her mind. While at the college, she was given the opportunity to travel all over the world. She was employed by New York City College for 31 years and retired as a higher education officer.
Payne, as a child and as an adult, constantly asked questions. She wanted to know more about her ancestors and the history of the community that she knew as a youngster in Orange. Over the years, through her digging and searching, she compiled 70 notebooks of verifiable history of her family and of Orange County. She learned through her research that her family was part of the enslaved community at James Madison’s plantation, Montpelier.
Payne has generously shared her research with several families and the African-American Museum of History and Culture. Clara was proud to be a special invitee to the pre-opening festivities at the museum.
In 2016, Clara donated the entire 70-notebook collection of her research to the Montpelier Foundation in hopes that others will be aided and inspired to find the stories of their ancestors.
Ruby Dee, a star of stage and screen and a civil rights activist, has been quoted as saying, “The greatest gift is not being afraid to question.” For 97 years, Clara Ellis Bailey Payne has been asking questions, and all of us are better informed because of her inquisitiveness.
Until next week, be well.
(Note: A special thank you to the Rev. Darryle Crump for contributing to this article.)