Helyn Elizabeth Payne Baltimore

Helyn Elizabeth Payne Baltimore, age 85 years, of East Orange, NJ passed away on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at St. Luke’s Hospital – Anderson Campus, Easton, PA.

Born in Raleigh, NC on February 18, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Helen Elizabeth Bailey and Harry Edgar Payne, Sr. She had resided in East Orange, NJ for over fifty years.

Helyn graduated from Shaw University, Raleigh, NC in 1957, BA in elementary education; Seton Hall University in 1977 with a MA in supervision and administration and years later, special education certification (teacher of the handicapped) from Kean University. In 1957, she was named “Miss Shaw” and was a part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She was a member of the sorority for sixty-five years and achieved “Pearl Soror” within the sorority. She was also the chaplain of the sorority’s local chapter, Beta Alpha Omega.

Ms. Baltimore was a retired Passaic public school system teacher, of thirty-nine years. She worked in special education and helped students with special needs. Through the years many of her students kept in touch with her because she cared beyond their educational needs like many teachers do. In 2004, she was named to the Kean University Board of Trustees. Additionally, she was a long-time active member of the Bethel Presbyterian Church, East Orange, NJ. Her family remembers her as someone who would always go out of her way to help others; she was loved by all who knew her and will be missed dearly.

She was predeceased by her parents as well as her brothers, John Edward Payne, and Harry Edgar Payne, Jr.

Surviving is her son and daughter-in-law, Ronald George Baltimore, Jr. and his wife, Johanna, of Bridgewater, NJ; her grandson, Ronald George Baltimore, III, also of Bridgewater, NJ, as well as her three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many other relatives and friends. A special tribute to Soror JoAnn Williams who was her in-home caretaker for the last three years as well as Soror Zende Clark, Soror Harriet Raghnal and Joyce Smith as her sorority daughters.

Livestreamed funeral services will take place at 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 8, 2022, in the First United Methodist Church, 48 West High Street, Somerville, NJ followed by graveside services in Rosedale Cemetery, Montclair, NJ. Private cremation services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit Helyn’s “Tribute Wall” at www.holcombefisher.com. A link to the livestream can be found on Helyn's Tribute Wall.