Payton Hunter

Payton Uland Hunter passed away peacefully on April 11, 2026, at the age of 72. He was born on December 1, 1953, in Washington, D.C., to the late Arthur and Arlene Hunter.

He was educated in the D.C. public school system and completed his studies at Spingarn High School, where he participated in track and field, soccer, and ROTC. During his senior year, Payton designed a model house he called Payton Place, which won first prize in the Architectural Engineering Division of the D.C. Arts and Science Fair. That achievement led to work at a local architectural firm, where he first witnessed computer-based design modeling. The experience sparked a lifelong love of computers and led him to devote more than 33 years between Blue Cross Blue Shield and GEICO as a computer programmer.

Payton was the middle child of five. Like many younger brothers, he took great delight in teasing his siblings, especially his sister Brenda, with bold and imaginative stories. He told them with such confidence that she often believed every word, only for him to burst into laughter once she realized she had been playfully fooled.

As a big brother, he delighted his baby sister, Celeste, by taking her on rides on his bike, racing down the hill near their house and bringing her safely to their back gate with a dramatic Batman stop that left her laughing and squealing with joy. Their bond was cemented early, when Payton was given the honor of naming her.

From an early age, Payton found joy in adventure. He explored Washington, D.C., on his bike with his brothers Dwight and Wayne, making trips to the Rock Creek Park Stables and to RFK Stadium, where they mischievously climbed to the viewing deck to watch football games. Later, he and his older brother Dwight caddied at Langston Golf Course, the only golf course in D.C. available to Black golfers at the time.

Payton also nurtured his love of the outdoors and gardening by spending summer vacations at his grandparents’ farm in Ashland, Virginia, not far from Richmond. As a child, he explored the pastures and woods with a large group of cousins, as his mother, Arlene, was one of ten siblings.

Those were treasured times filled with good food prepared by the loving hands of his aunts and grandmother Sue Rose, and with the tall hunting tales shared by his uncles. Later, as a teenager, he spent time on the farm helping his uncle John and grandpa John Walter care for the land and animals. As an adult, he lived in Richmond for a short time, which gave him the opportunity to visit his grandmother often and listen to the stories she shared about their great-grandparents and earlier days.

Payton also loved motorcycles. His passion began the day he took his first bike ride through Rock Creek Park and was stopped by a police officer because his driving was so perfect it raised suspicion. From that moment on, he set his sights on owning a Harley. He achieved that dream in 2004 when he purchased his Dyna Super Glide, a milestone that helped fuel his desire to move to South Carolina, where he could ride year-round.

Payton’s deep love for dogs began when his first dog, Shelly, quite literally chose him by grabbing his necktie and refusing to let go. That love stayed with him throughout his life and came full circle with his last dog, whom he knew he had to bring home the moment he learned they shared his beloved nickname, Pop. He was also a devoted dog dad to Sheba, Bear, Zena, and Pops, and a loving granddad to his grand pup, Koda.

Payton was a gun enthusiast and devoted collector who even worked in the Walmart Sporting Goods department so he could become a licensed collector of curios and relics. When he was not adding to his collections, he was preparing for his fly-fishing debut by watching A River Runs Through It annually with his wife, Mari. In 2008, while visiting close friends Gregory Bulkley and Jacqui Graham in Oregon, Payton fulfilled that dream when he caught and released his biggest fish.

Payton loved music. He played the clarinet and saxophone in a live band in Columbia, South Carolina, and he especially cherished the time spent playing guitar alongside his fellow musician and close friend, Michael LaRosa.

Payton met his dream girl, Mari, in 2006, and from that moment on, he opened his life and heart to her and to her children—Daniel, Danieka, and Davon. They were married in 2009 at their home in South Carolina, affectionately known as Whispering Pines, a place filled with love, laughter, and the quiet peace they built together.

They spent some of their happiest days traveling, cruising, training dogs, and visiting the gun range—always side by side. Payton embraced his role as a father figure with pride and joy, pouring himself into family life. Whether he was taking his nephew Jamal on motorcycle rides to the arboretum, standing proudly at the birth of his grandson Gabriel, giving guitar lessons to his grandson Dasan, or spending afternoons at the park and on nature walks with his grandsons Dasan, Gabriel, and Michael, he showed up with his whole heart.

Some of Payton’s most cherished moments were the long talks he shared with his son-in-law, LaDonne—conversations filled with trust, honesty, and connection. In his final days, LaDonne’s care and comfort meant more to Payton than words could express.

Payton was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Arlene Hunter; his brothers, Wayne Hunter and Dwight Hunter (Deloris); his closest cousin, Clayton Winston (Juanita); and his brother-in-law, Robert James Wiggins (Mary).

He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Marietta Hunter; his sisters, Brenda Hunter (Sterling) and Celeste Robinson (Tony); his brother-in-law, Moses William Wiggins, Jr. (Ernestine); and his daughters, Shellee Hunter Jackson, Crystal Bikoi Nkaa, and Ulanda Hunter.

He is also lovingly remembered by his stepchildren, Danieka Lottier (LaDonne), Daniel Lottier (Cynthia), and Davon Wiggins; his nephews, Jamal Braxton and Ryan Hunter; his niece, Adia Robinson; his grandchildren, Jean Jaques, Christopher, Christa, Kendra, Dasan, Gabriel, Michael, Chloe, and Nylah; and a host of other relatives and friends.