David Payton was a talented writer, producer, and director. A native of Pitt County, Payton learned his work ethics on a 250-acre farm owned by his parents, J.D. “Buster” Payton and Hattie Mae Payton, in farming and logging in Simpson, NC. David Payton started his writing career at G.R. Whitfield Elementary School. His love for music and entertainment embraced when he was one of the very first band members in 1974 at D.H. Conley High School. While at D.H. Conley High School, David joined the FBLA (Futures Business Leaders of America) and competed on State level and received many awards.
After graduating from D.H. Conley High School, Payton attended St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, NC on a music scholarship. In Raleigh, he worked With the LaVerne Players Theatre group and starred in the play “Slow Dance on the Killing Ground”. He received much publicity and awards for his outstanding performance in the play. That’s when the stage bug bit him. He continued his education at Johnson C. Smith University, majoring in Business and Marketing and graduated from the Carolina School of Broadcasting. Being a true believer in community and his artistic gifts from God, Payton became an associate pastor of the Temple Chapel Baptist Church, as well as a member of the Prince Hall Masons in Charlotte.
Upon returning to Greenville, NC in 1993, he started his outreach ministry in which he tried to reach others through Spiritual Theatre. He was on the tour circuit with Spiritual Stage Plays since 1989. He received his start from his first investor Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell from the Boston Celtics for the play “A Struggle To Be Free”. Since then Payton has wrote, produced, and directed several electrifying spiritual theatrical plays, such as “A Good Man Is Hard To Find”, “The Real Meaning of Christmas”, “Child Support”, “Ain’t No Woman Like The One I Got”, “When A Woman’s Fed Up”, ”Tired of Being Alone”, “Train Up A Child, “Let’s Straighten It Out”, “Betta Put That Woman First”, “They Said I Wouldn’t Make It”, “Stand By Me” and “Behind The Pulpit”.
All of his plays have toured the country from 1989 until his passing in 2011. Payton was tragically killed in a truck accident on October 4th 2011. His legacy and mission continues through the Greenville Theatre Arts Center and his daughter, Davonya Terri Campbell-Payton. Click here to learn more about her: Davonya Terri Campbell- Payton.
David’s mission continues through his works by:
1. Providing spiritual unity to the family through theatre.
2. Encourage collective work, collaborative efforts and responsibility through community arts.
3. Enhancing self-determination and self-discovery through spirituality.
4. Defining ones purpose in life through creative works.
5. Promoting creativity to build positive images in the community and urban arts.
6. Encouraging faith among others.
Stream David Payton’s movie “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” produced by 20th Century Fox and Codeblack Entertainment starring Golden Brooks, Hill Harper, Darrin Henson, Mel Jackson, Mary Mary, Deborah Cox, Darius McCray, and a host of other cast members.
