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 Reo elementary school and Everett high school. From a young age, Charles’ love of the arts was evident. He participated in theater in junior high school and always created a stir with his writing – both inside and outside of the classroom. Memorably, he wrote a soap opera-esque saga starring 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.
Charles graduated during the recession of 2008, and, unable to find teaching work in Michigan, opted to move to Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix quickly became one of his favorite places in the world, and while living there, Charles would drive along Route 66 and find fun things to do, including kayaking, hiking, and, once, traveling to see a high school production of Bye Bye Birdie! that he saw listed in the local paper (He loved musical theater). Charles worked at multiple schools while in Phoenix but was unable to keep steady employment due to the recession, despite helping his classes raise their test scores and even convincing one principal to sponsor a trip to Washington, D.C. when his class hit their academic goals. He coached the basketball team while teaching, as well, and – in true Charles form – went above and beyond to make sure the kids were safe, even walking them home along his route. When one teaching gig came to an end, the students and parents lined up outside the school with signs and gifts, thanking him for his service to the school and returning the favor by walking him home.
Another important aspect of Charles’ life while he lived in Phoenix was slam poetry, which was introduced to him by lifelong friend and fellow poet, Jeremiah Blue. While Charles had always loved writing and storytelling, slam poetry gave him a direction for that love, and a vessel for his powerful, deep voice. Charles helped Jeremiah host slam poetry events, including bringing National Poetry Slam competitions and feature artists to Phoenix stages. One of his biggest accomplishments was being on a team alongside Jeremiah and other friends from Phoenix that traveled to the National Poetry Slam competition.
As teaching jobs became scarcer and more unstable, Charles decided to go back to school for Counseling at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. He completed his counseling master’s degree and enjoyed lots of fun trips while studying, including tame outings with the Forestry majors to do conservation work with the Ponderosa Pines, and less tame outings with other Residence Life members to nearby Las Vegas.
Charles’ years in academia and residence life took him to several other notable schools and locations, including St. Edwards University in Austin, TX, Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX, and Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH. Eventually, Charles made the move closer to home to be closer to his niece, Janaya, and nephew, Justin, and to help assist with his father whose health was beginning to decline. He lived for a couple of years in South Bend, IN with his first wife, Samira Payne, where he taught at a charter school called Career Academy.
In 2018, he moved to Madison, WI alongside his wife and began his career with UW-Health as a Career Pathways Coordinator. Unfortunately, just three days after moving to Madison, a massive flood struck the city and he and his partner lost many of their belongings, including their apartment, car, and other possessions. You can read about that experience in Charles’ own words via this Isthmus essay. Despite the initial trauma he faced in Madison, Charles was always struck by the response and support he received from the community here.
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Additionally, he loved the arts community, and he was especially drawn to places like Arts & Literature Lab, Overture Center for the Arts, Forward Theater, Broom Theater, and many, many more. His work flourished and he wrote several award-winning poems, self-published a chapbook titled Love, Payne, Hate and Adversity, and even wrote a play called Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf. Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf featured a series of poems and personal essays that reflected Charles’ observations about the education system in America through his lens as a Black man who taught across the country during the recession. It would be picked up by Magnetic Theatre’s play incubator program, which helped develop the material and get the piece performed in Clemson, SC, Asheville, NC, and Madison, WI.
Following the dissolution of his first marriage in 2019, Charles met Liz Boyd in June of 2021. From the first date, it was evident that the two had a connection, with their mutual love of music, theater, musical theater (Phantom of the Opera especially), travel, nature, and adventure. The pair quickly became a couple and within a year had purchased a home together on Madison’s north side, settling into a life of morning hikes, trips to their favorite coffee shop, Java Cat, and hanging out with friends and family.
Charles loved finding the best restaurants in town, getting tickets to American Players Theater every summer, GLEAM every fall, and walking the best dog in the world, Gertie, morning, noon and night. The two got married in 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland and honeymooned in the highlands on what Charles would describe as “the best vacation of my life”.
Charles and Liz had lots of great trips and adventures together that Charles remembered fondly and spoke of often. Some of his favorites included their annual trips to see Liz’s extended family for Thanksgiving in Little Rock, AR, which included stops in Lansing, St. Louis, Memphis, and more; a trip to New Orleans with a group of their friends where he got to show Liz BE Studios, she got to take him on a gator swamp tour, and everyone got to enjoy po’ boys and beignets; a birthday trip to Phoenix, which included stops at the Heard Museum, the Japanese Friendship Garden, and a jaunt up to Flagstaff where they did a very memorable pink jeep tour out to see the red rocks.
Charles was a rare person: in everyday conversations he never wanted to take up space, yet when he spoke, people listened. He was a big guy, with a booming voice and an infectious laugh, but he was never intimidating. Instead, he made people feel instantly safe and welcome, encouraging others to be their true selves and holding space for whatever stories, feelings, or interactions came out of that vulnerability.
When it came to his nieces, nephews, and other young people in his life, Charles always seemed to be able to see something in them they couldn’t see in themselves. He could connect with a silly joke, inspire with a rousing speech, or correct with a gentle remark. The kids in his life benefited from knowing him, and he loved each of them immensely, always thinking of some new way to help them uncover a hitherto unknown passion or reach a goal they’d set for themselves.
If you knew Charles, you probably received or were offered a gift from him at some point. It didn’t matter how long he had known you – he had a special talent for figuring out what would be meaningful or useful to you and getting that very thing when you needed it most. He had a special love for finding great art, great books, and that perfect pair of shoes for the people in his life.
Charles is survived by his mother, Carolyn Terry, his sister, Tressha Terry, his niece, Janaya Brown, and his nephew Justin Brown. He is also survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Liz) Boyd, his father-in-law, David Boyd, his sisters-in-law, Jacqueline Boyd and Leilani Fiatoa, his niece, Ailey Fiatoa-Boyd, his nephew, Andrew Fiatoa-Boyd, his sister-in-law, Jazmyn Strange & Family, and his brother-in-law, Michael Boyd.
Charles did not want to have a service or funeral, but a memorial gathering will be held in Spring 2027 (date TBD). If you would like to be notified when the gathering will take place, please share your contact information here. Plans will be made in early 2027.
It is the wish of the family that no flowers, gifts, or cards be sent. However, you are invited to share any memories you have of Charles on this site, for his family and friends to read and enjoy.
Additionally, Charles loved education and the arts. Over the years, he hosted events and readings, helped curate art shows, planned programs, won awards from, and attended monthly poetry classes at the Arts & Literature Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin. If you’d like to do something in remembrance of Charles, please consider giving a gift in his memory to Art Lit Lab (link pending)