Candace (Candy) Lynne Payton

With heavy hearts we share the passing of Candace “Candy” Lynne Payton (formerly Hoffman) due to complications from Alzheimer's disease on May 15, 2025 at Northside Hospital in Cumming, GA. Candy was born on July 21 1953, in Washington DC; at an early age her family settled in the south, first North Carolina and then Georgia where she resided for most of her life. She graduated from Tucker High School and then achieved a bachelor's degree at Kennesaw State University. She was married for 30 years and is survived by her children, Emily Henderson and Drew Payton, and her grandchildren, Grant Henderson and Charlotte Payton, as well as her brother Pete Hoffman.

Candy will be remembered for her big heart and sense of adventure that only seemed to blossom with age. As her children, she was our biggest supporter and her faith in us carried us both through rough times. We find joy in knowing how incredibly proud of us she was, Andrew became a United States Marine and Emily graduated with honors from the University of Georgia. Both of us went on to start our own families and when Candy became a grandmother, we saw a softer, gentler side, that we had never known before. Whether it was quitting her job to take care of Grant full time or taking Charlotte to the pool in her neighborhood, Nana was always up for an adventure and relished any time she got to spend with the grandkids.

Aside from being a loving mother and grandmother, Candy cherished her small group of friends which she lovingly referred to as “The Girls.” Whether it was spending the weekend at a cabin in Helen, going on a cruise, or quietly relaxing at the lake or beach, Candy was always excited to spend time with her friends. Even at the end, getting to go get her hair done with her best friend Carol was the highlight of her week and something she always looked forward to.

Mom’s sense of adventure and big personality came out in other ways, like cheering for her favorite team, the UGA Bulldogs, making time for a beach vacation every single year (whether it was with family or friends) and trying new hobbies like bingo, bowling or joining a book club. If you were to ask, she would probably tell you that her favorite vacation was going to visit Drew in Hawaii where she visited the lava fields and climbed the Stairway to Heaven. He even convinced her to take a small plane to Kauai where they zip lined, ground their own coffee beans and rented a bright red convertible to take in the sights of the island.

Mom also had a quieter side which came out in her love for cats, books and going to church at Zoar UMC in Snellville, GA. Mom has been a member at Zoar for 35+ years and in the last few years she began regularly attending church again. She loved her church family with her whole heart, and from the stories we have heard, it was clear the feeling was mutual.

We will be hosting a drop in celebration of her life at Zoar UMC on Saturday 5/24/25 from 4:00-6:00PM. The dress code is casual, and we invite everyone to come dressed in their UGA colors (red, black & white) to share a meal and stories of your favorite memories of Mom. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Zoar or to the charity of your choice.

We love you Mom,

Emily & Drew

Ingram Funeral Home, 210 Ingram Ave, Cumming, GA is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be expressed online at ingramfuneralhome.com.