Nicki Gagalis Payne

Nicolette “Nicki” Sue Payne (Gagalis), 82, died July 26, 2025, after a longtime cardiac illness and Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Beckley, West Virginia, she and her children moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1982.

Nicki received her Associate’s Degree in Science with a minor in Art Design from Marshall University in Huntington, WV. Then, she received her Registered Record Librarian degree from Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC.

Nicki showcased her sense of entrepreneurship for several years upon her arrival in Jacksonville. She was the owner of a Physician’s Weight Loss Center franchise. Then, she organized various mall shows for Promotions Network. Nicki also sold Bahamas cruises as owner of Omni Pearl Promotions. Plus, she worked as a sales associate in Men’s Shoes at Dillard’s Department Store of the Avenues Mall.

Nicki discovered her true love of interior design/furniture sales for 25 years until her retirement in 2015. Starting at the former RC Jones of Jacksonville Beach, she worked for several other furniture stores including Furniture Mart, Norwalk, and Thomasville Home Furnishings, before enjoying long-time employment with Liberty Furniture of University Boulevard.

Nicki loved to share her design portfolios with family and friends and enjoyed helping her loved ones with home renovation ideas, rearranging furniture, and hanging pictures.

In 1962, Nicki was crowned Miss West Virginia and represented the state in the Miss USA pageant that year.

Nicki’s favorite pastime, since she was a little girl, was dancing. Without fail, she could be found on the dance floors of Bolero, 57 Heaven, Club Savoy and Gusto’s Restaurant doing the West Coast Swing, Foxtrot, Hustle or Disco.

But Nicki’s pride and joy was her “small but mighty” family. She was lovingly known as “Nana Bug” to her three granddaughters (a nickname that her mother was also referred to). She loved playing cards, drawing, going to Target or the Dollar Store or getting a milkshake at Chick-fil-A with her grandchildren.

Nicki was the daughter of the late Nicholas Thomas Gagilis and Helen Sikora. She is survived by her son, Philip “Wyatt” Payne Jr. (Kelly) of Jacksonville Beach, FL; her daughter, Ashlee (Burgess) Jenkins of Winston-Salem, NC; “second daughter,” Vicki Weeks Breeding-Brown of Atlantic Beach, FL; granddaughters, Sydney and Hudson of Jacksonville Beach, FL and Lila “Harper” Jenkins of Winston-Salem, NC; a niece, Cindi (Eric) Lynch of Naples, FL; a nephew, Rob Lynch of Fort Myers, FL; a granddog, Jackson of Winston-Salem, NC and grandkitties, Charlie and Willie of Jacksonville Beach, FL. She was the sister of the late Estella Jo Lynch and Robert “Hudgy” of Naples, FL.

No funeral or memorial service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to dementiasociety.org.