Beatrice Pitts Payne, the oldest living alumna of Bowie State University in Maryland, died on August 5. She was 106 years old. Her funeral was held at the Grace Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, where she had been a member for more than 80 years.
Payne graduated from what was then called Bowie Normal School in 1928. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at Morgan State University in Baltimore. She conducted graduate study at New York University and Johns Hopkins University. From 1942 to 1946, Payne served as director of the Bowie State alumni association.
Payne taught for two years in Carroll County schools and then taught for more than 36 years in the public school system of Baltimore County. For 25 years, Payne was both a teacher and a school principal. She retired in 1966.