Morgan Quarles Payne

Morgan was born in Rome, GA, on April 4, 1943, and passed away June 18, 2024. His parents were the late Mather McCormick Payne and Eleanor Morgan Payne. He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Cynthia Webb Payne, sons Christopher (Christy), Andrew (Stacy), Matthew (Clare), and daughter Jennifer Duffy (Joe); grandchildren Anne Carter, Emily, Morgan Jr., Carolyn, James and Harrison Payne, and David and Alexandra Duffy. He is also survived by his brother, Ken (Forrestine), and his sister Elissa Christiansen (Steve), and a number of cousins, nieces, and nephews he loved dearly.

Morgan graduated from West Rome High School, where he was Mr. West Rome in 1961. He then made his way down Highway 41 in his old Ford Falcon to Atlanta where he enrolled at Georgia Tech, graduating in 1965 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He had an unwavering support for the Yellow Jackets, eventually becoming an Alexander-Tharpe Fund Life Member in his love for all things down at “The Flats”. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, where as President he had to develop his incredible leadership and negotiating skills in order to keep the “House” on campus more than once (enough said!). Some of Morgan’s best friends in life came from his brothers at the Kappa Sig House.

After graduation, he worked for IBM in sales from 1965 – 1968, earning the prestigious 100% Club. He then joined The Robinson-Humphrey Company in 1968, starting his successful career in sales, management, and investment banking. He then went on to become the President of two publicly traded companies (The Cyprus Corporation and Byers Communications). These experiences enabled him to be confident in creating Broadland Capital Partners in 1990, where he provided corporate advisory services to companies in the technology, communications, and infrastructure industries. He came across countless business associates and partners throughout his career, many of which also became true great friends. He was still advising until his passing.

Growing up in Rome, GA, Morgan’s father, Mather, owned the local radio station WRGA. From this early exposure to communications, he adopted a passion for HAM radio. One of his favorite stories (that only accomplished HAM-radio enthusiasts can truly appreciate) was that one night, from his driveway on Woodbine Ave. in Rome, Ga., he achieved contact with a US Naval Ship stationed in the South Pacific. This event that probably fed his fascination with all things communications.

As an eleven-year-old active boy, he experienced a major life-changing event when he was afflicted with the polio virus that swept across America in 1954. Later, at a doctor’s appointment, he and his mom overheard doctors saying that “the boy there in the wheelchair will probably never walk again.” Three years later, sustained by his Christian faith, the love and devotion of his parents and physical therapist Ms. Brock, he finally walked again, and did so unincumbered for most of the next 65 years. This temporary, yet major challenge in his early formative life, eventually became his greatest personal life motivation: To never give up, to always have a positive outlook on life, and that Christ is always with us.

Morgan’s love for golf and travel took Cindy and him on wonderful trips with many great friends, from the pure beauty of Pebble Beach, CA, to the vineyards of France, to the villas of Tuscany, to the glaciers of New Zealand. They especially enjoyed Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (where they met), Highlands, NC, and numerous golf courses in between. In all family activities, he engineered powerful optimism, whether it was in taking a golf-cart ride with “Papa Morgan,” watching every James Bond movie made, or simply grilling the pork tenderloins on the Weber at the family’s Easter gatherings. As he told the family during one of his many wonderful last conversations, his favorite place in the world was always wherever he was with them.

The family is so grateful to all the incredible caregivers, medical staff, and doctors at Gordon County Hospital, Hamilton Medical Center, Emory Winship Cancer Institute, and Emory Midtown Hospital (Bridgeway Hospice). Their love and care shined throughout.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Tuesday July 2, 2024, at 11:00am in Kellett Chapel at Peachtree Presbyterian Church -3434 Roswell Rd Atlanta, Ga 30305. A reception will immediately follow in the Kellett Chapel. In lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made to the Shepherd Center Foundation (specifically in “Areas of Need” à “Recreation Therapy”) to support their efforts in post-polio syndrome: https://foundation.shepherd.org/areas-of-need/recreation-therapy/