Rena Payton Harden

Rena Payton Harden – our dear mother, passed away just four days from turning 94 and is now reunited with family members who preceded her in death. They are her husband, Retired Fire Chief of the Black Mudd Fire Department, Frank Harden; their infants, Yvonne, Robin and Grant; her parents, Huett and Elsie Payton; sisters, Louise Smith, Eunice Mann, Letha Metcalf, Patsy Richey, Freda Payton and her brother, William "Shorty" Payton.

The Payton and Snellen families lived in the Valley Station area and mother attended Medora Elementary School, and was a proud graduate of Valley High School, class of 1944. She skipped a grade in elementary school due to her academic advancements and graduated high school at age 16. She played on the Valley Vikings Softball Team and was leading lady in the Senior Play. She is a current member of the VHS Alumni Association.

Later in life she was employed by the Jefferson County Public Schools as a Teacher's Aide for 17 years at Rangeland Elementary, then retiring from Klondike Lane Elementary. She was always happy to see or hear from her former students.

Rena is survived by her loving daughters, Debbie Hayes (Ken) and Michele Lathan, and a daughter from another Mother, Sonja Evans (David); grandson, Chris Reynolds (Polly Beth), and their children, Wyatt and Luke; granddaughter, Kim Ricca (Brad) and their children, Sarah Jane, Elijah, Ezekiel and SoliDeo. She loved her adopted grandchildren like her own, Lauren Richey Hall (Brandon) and their children, Saylor and Scarlett, Alex Richey, Whitney Evans Mulkins (Tyler) and their son, Booker, Benjamin Evans and Megan Evans Pugh (Clay) and their children, Kenley and Hudson.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 pm on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals and Receptions, East Louisville Chapel, 235 Juneau Drive, Louisville, Kentucky 40243. Visitation will also be from 11am to time of service at 1pm on Friday, November 19th at Green Acres Baptist Church, 5189 Poplar Level Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40219. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to her church, Green Acres Baptist Church.

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