William Peter James Payne Jan. 2, 2006 - Feb. 23, 2025
Please be patient while this page loads.
Eulogy - I Will - by Will’s Mum
I Will
Today, we gather to celebrate and honour the life of my beloved son, Will. It’s impossible to put into words the deep sorrow of losing someone so incredibly special, but we are here not just to mourn, but to remember the light he brought into our lives.
William was my life’s work. From the moment he was born, Will filled our hearts with immeasurable love and laughter. With each passing year, he blossomed into a remarkable individual, achieving big and small milestones, especially in the kindness he showed to others.
Will was born in 2006. His name, William, means ‘resolute, or determined protector’ and this proved to be a perfect name for him, as he showed determination throughout his life, determination to overcome whatever challenges he faced, and caring for and protecting those who needed his help.
From an early age, my son was a force to be reckoned with — not only in his passion for things he enjoyed doing, but in every aspect of his life. He had an unwavering drive, a fierce and loyal friend, but always with a spirit of kindness and fairness. He knew that life was not always fair, but by pushing yourself, growing stronger, and treating others with respect you can create fairness. His dedication to always being better, to achieving, was a reflection of his character — hardworking, committed, and always striving for more. It
wasn’t just about what he did, whether it was football, gaming, travel, swimming, or tennis - it was the lessons it taught him: discipline, resilience, and the joy of progress.
In his younger years was also a devoted fan of Wolves. Watching games with him was an experience filled with excitement and passion. He didn’t just cheer for a team; he cheered for the love of the game, for the camaraderie, and the shared moments that connected him to so many others, both near and far. Inexplicably to us, but it made sense to Will, he also supported Chelsea. One highlight just last year when I took him to Stamford Bridge for a special, “Bring Your Boots Tour”. This allowed Will to play on the pitch, score some goals, as well as a VIP stadium tour. He loved that day so much, and proudly displayed the photos he took in his room at university.
His loyalty to his teams mirrored his loyalty to his family and friends — unwavering, constant, and true.
But beyond his passions, my son was one of the kindest, most generous souls you could ever meet. He was the kind of person who would go out of his way to help others, whether it was lending a hand or simply offering a listening ear. His compassion was limitless. He found joy in giving, in raising money for charities, in lifting others up, and in being there for his family, who he loved so dearly.
Will was a Police Cadet for Staffordshire Police, as well as a St John Ambulance cadet. He started a junior tennis at WLTSC, where he was made to feel like a member of the family, and as an older teen he became a tennis leader supporting the juniors, including his brother. Will gave of his time generously. He wrote in his UCAS statement when he applied to university, “These achievements were made more challenging due to the difficulties faced with autism and epilepsy however, the support I received from teaching staff and family members as well as my own desire to overcome obstacles, enabled me to succeed. I have benefited a great deal from the opportunities that sport has provided growing up. I have flourished in many different areas as a result of great coaching and the support of a wide range of people in the education system. I would relish the opportunity to be able to do the same for another generation of children and inspire them in the way that I have been inspired.”. Thank you to those of you who have told us that you, or your children were inspired by Will. He would’ve been so proud.
Will worked hard in everything he did, always striving to achieve more. Life wasn’t always easy, but he faced every challenge with courage and determination. No matter how tough things got, he would find a way to push through.
Will loved to travel. Every year since he was 3, apart from the Covid years, we spent our summers in Canada with family, close to the American border. He loved venturing over to the United States for the afternoon, looking around their sports shops. Will experienced idyllic summers in the Ontario sunshine. From adventures in Toronto, a city he fell in love with and wanted to work in as an adult, to time spent at the family cottage in Northern Ontario on Lake Huron. As a young child, Will would often be seen grabbing a handful of sunflower seeds to feed the chipmunks, who would eat the seeds from his gentle hand, or watching the hummingbirds zip by. He loved everything that Canada offered him, time on the beach, picking wild blueberries, to watching ice hockey, particularly the Toronto Maple Leafs, and learning all about baseball. Will supported to the Toronto Blue Jays, and was fortunate enough to attend two games in his life, visit the Hockey Hall of Fame, and visit Niagara Falls.
Time spent with his Canadian family was precious. We were fortunate to spend many summers are our family cottage with its own beach. Jet skiing with Uncle Steve on Lake Huron, swimming or kayaking were always happy occasions. Attending Canada’s largest rib-fest barbecue was always brilliant, as was shopping in outlet malls for his sports gear and trainers.
Will also spent many happy times in the caravan in England and Wales with his Dad, and Oren. He loved looking a maps, deciding where to go and discovering new places. It didn’t matter where he was, he was happy and loved travelling. Wales, Cornwall and Devon were particular favourites.
Will loved quizzes. He was a talented quizzer, even at a young age. His memory was incredible, if ever you needed a “phone a friend”, Will would be it. He knew a great deal about sport, geography - capital cities, flags, and random knowledge he learnt from watching quiz shows. For several years he joined me and friends as our ‘secret weapon’ at quiz night at the Pigot pub just opposite this church. He loved tv, particularly Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, the Simpsons. When younger he loved Toy Story and Cars movies, later loving all the Marvel movies.
When Will was diagnosed with epilepsy, aged 13, he did not let that stop him. He knew that a seizure could happen at any time, without warning. Yet, he never let anything hold him back from reaching his dreams. Nothing stopped him, he didn’t stop to think about not going on school trips, travelling to new places, or visiting football grounds. His resilience was remarkable. From overcoming obstacles to achieving great things, Will showed us the true meaning of strength. He never gave up, never listened to negativity, or the opinions of those he would not ask for advice - and he made sure that every step he took was a step toward growth and success.
Will was often quiet and unassuming. He loved to unwind playing video games, immersing himself in those virtual worlds, and finding joy in the stories and challenges they presented. Whether alone or with friends, it was a way for him to relax and escape — but even in those moments, he brought a sense of camaraderie and spirit that made him a cherished companion to those around him. He was an accomplished player of Rocket League, Marvel, Fortnite, whichever the latest FIFA game was and NHL Ice Hockey games. His accuracy in predicting Premier League scores was amazing.
Will aspired to be a teacher, coach and mentor. We have learned over the past few weeks that Will already fulfilled that role to so many young people. A loyal friend, a role model, the boy who overcame so much. One example of his generosity was on the Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition. Due to his epilepsy, Will was unable to take part in a particularly challenging section of the expedition, and he went to rest. However, knowing his fellow participants had munched their way through their supplies, and would be tired and hungry, when he returned to camp he walked in, beaming, with armfuls of popcorn, haribo and chips from the chippy for his campmates.
When we were looking at university options, we decided together that Will should only ever be an hour away. When he was in Year 12, we attended an Open Day at the University of Staffordshire in Stoke on Trent. I remember it well. It was a sunny day - an unusual occurrence in Stoke. We were not sure what to expect, but we both spent the whole day smiling. Will felt immediately at home. The tutors we met, the students, staff, were all so very welcoming. It felt like home. We visited many times, every opportunity before submitting his application via UCAS one Thursday morning. The next day Will received an offer from Staffs, and he was over the moon. This became an unconditional offer, and even though he was already ‘in’, he continued to work hard at his BTEC Sport, achieving Triple Distinction. A great achievement for a boy who had not studied sport prior to the Sixth Form. The staff, at St Chad’s, at Perton Middle, and Codsall High were amazing, and unwavering in their support for Will, and all other children. They inspired him to be a teacher. Their dedication to their roles was a gift to Will, and we are grateful.
In September 2024, Will started at uni. We told him then, as we did often, just how proud we are of him. Even though he still was at risk of having a seizure, he had the confidence to fly. On his first day, we wore his “I WILL” t-shirt, it helped others remember his name. Will put a tub of celebrations in the shared kitchen to share. He settled in quickly, his flat mates were all wonderful. One of the things he quietly made sure to do was to empty the kitchen bin regularly. No-one likes that job, but Will felt if he did it, it would make others’ lives a bit easier. He joined the tennis society, and the dodgeball society, making a group of wonderful friends. Will loved both practical and academic sessions, the fellow students on course were just his ‘tribe’. He had reached peak happiness. I have no doubt that everyone he met would have remained life-long friends. Thank you for that.
Today, as we remember my son, we remember not just his accomplishments, but the way he made us feel. The warmth of his heart, the laughter he shared with us, the way he always made time for those he loved, and how he lived with such purpose, altruism and integrity. He taught us the importance of hard work, the value of kindness, and the power of love and family. His brother, Oren, is going to talk to you about a number of challenges that we would like to task you with. 19 challenges for Will’s 19 years.
Will’s legacy lives on in each of us. We carry his spirit in our hearts, his lessons in our actions, and his love in the way we treat one another. My son may no longer be with us in body, but he will forever be with us in spirit, in memory, and in the way he shaped our lives.
Rest in peace, my dear son. You were loved more than words can say, and you will never be forgotten.