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Davonya Terri Campbell-Payton, known affectionately as "Terri", “Coach Tee”, or the musical prodigy "The Triumphant Angel," was raised in the vibrant community of Greenville, North Carolina. Immersed in the arts from an early age, she grew up in the worlds of dance, music, and theatre. Her father, David Payton, achieved national recognition as an African American Playwright in Off-Off Broadway between 1990 and 2010 for his production "A Good Man is Hard to Find," while her mother founded the Greenville Theatre Arts Center in 1992. These experiences served as gateways to the creative powerhouse Terri is today. With over 15 years of experience as an actress, choreographer, playwright, creative director, and musician, she integrates top-tier hospitality and innovative educational tools to advocate for the transformative and holistic power of artistic healing.
A 2013 graduate of J. H. Rose High School in Greenville, NC, Terri completed her secondary education at just 16 years old. Her high school years were marked by creative leadership as the Drum Major for the Marching Rampants and a performance as Mrs. Potts in "Beauty and the Beast". She also expanded her horizons during a Filmmaking Summer Intensive at the UNC School of the Arts. By the age of 19, she had earned a degree in Hospitality with a focus on Sports, Entertainment, and Event Management from Johnson & Wales University in 2016.Returning to Greenville in 2017, Terri dedicated herself to philanthropy and advocacy within the arts. She became the Program Director for the Greenville Theatre Arts Center in 2019, where she mentored youth ages 7-17. Her commitment to community enlightenment grew in 2020 when she became a certified End of Life Doula, a role she uses to bridge the gap between artistic expression and healing.
Terri's academic and performance journey continued at East Carolina University's School of Theatre and Dance, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre for Young Audiences between 2023 and 2025. Her time at ECU included notable roles such as Nana in "Last Stop on Market Street," Mama Euralie in "Once on this Island," and Headmistress in "African Mean Girls Play". Her leadership extended to directing and choreography; she choreographed "Mean Girls the Musical" at J. H. Rose and "Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical" at ECU in early 2024. In 2025, she served as assistant director for "My Robot" and directed an adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" at ECU. Since 2024, she has also been a co-director and stage manager for the national tour of the stage play "When a Woman’s Fed Up".
Terri has served as the Dance Educator at North Pitt High School in Bethel, NC, since August 2025, where she oversees both the dance program and the dance team. Currently pursuing a Master's degree in Dance Education at UNC Greensboro, she exemplifies the versatility of teaching artists who operate across schools, community centers, and higher education institutions. These professionals are unique in their ability to simultaneously create art and mentor others in their creative expression. Drawing from her extensive background in music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and media, Terri brings a diverse range of inspiration to her community. She developed the Artistic Healing Experience to empower people of all ages through the transformative power of theatre, guiding them on a journey of self-love, discovery, and discipline. This holistic approach to Artistic Healing focuses on aligning the spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental self, using art to champion freedom and truth for the youth and the broader community.
