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Born October 15, 1978, In Dyer County Tennessee, To Charles W. Payne and Mary Ilene Junior. Dell Was given the name Priscilla Anne Payne. Her early years were rough as they could be. Born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Doctors didn't hold much hope for this child to live long. Born weighing under 4lbs they believed she would be another statistic. Yet she had the fighting spirit of her ancestors, Dell is 1/2 Navajo and 1/4 Cherokee. That heritage would play a pivotal role in her life growing up. Her Mother Mary had an affliction known to many natives. She was an alcoholic. 

      Thus, the tale begins of one girl handed a hand of cards telling her that she wouldn't be smart, she would be destined to a life of limited means, yet through all the odds she became strong independent and a prolific writer of poetry. when she was four Mary dropped her brother and her off with a distant relative in Oregon. Jim and Diane Lloyd. Being Young Priscilla bonded with Dyane as if she were her mother. Dyane Being a poet herself would read her poetry when Priscilla had night terrors to calm her fears. this became a cornerstone that shaped the later poet inside the girl.

                    For a few years, she lived with the Lloyds and were happy. However, Fate Can be a cruel lady The State stepped in and Took them, placing these two children into foster care yet again, when they had just learned to trust. By the time She turned 8 almost 9 The state had moved them crossed Oregon. To Margaret and Jeff Nein in Pendleton Oregon. In 1988, Priscilla and Thomas found their Forever home.

The Nein's changed their full names to Jennifer Dell Nein Jennifer showed great interests in music learning to play the Trombone, she also showed great interests in reading and writing. She found one artist that gave her inspiration Billy Ray Cyrus.

  So she fused three names together to create her pen name her birth middle name and her adopted middle name and Raye to show, that though she lived a rough life. she embraced proudly where she came from, along with where she became part of a family and adding Raye She chose to honor her inspiration. There you have the story, the sorted tale of Behind the Poet Dell Anne Raye