Donald Payne , the first African American elected to the House of Representatives from New Jersey in 1988, has died. He was 77 years old.
The New Jersey Rep. passed away after experiencing complications from colon cancer. Democrat Payne, the former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, died at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, New Jersey.
As one of the most progressive members of his state’s delegation, congressman Payne made alleviating poverty a key aim of his 12 terms in office. The tributes from the House of Representatives flowed freely on Tuesday evening. Fellow New Jersey Democrat Rep. Frank Pallone talked about how Payne always believed in crossing party lines for the greater good:
“He always thought that we could have a better world, that Democrats and Republicans could work together.”
The congressman was also renowned for his work on human rights, and was the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee dealing with Africa, as well as a member of a congressional delegation to the United Nations. In 2009, his plane was almost hit by shells fired at Mogadishu airport in Somalia. A number of civilians were killed in the incident.
Rep. Christopher Smith, who served with Payne on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, described Payne as a man who “worked for peace and reconciliation in war-ravaged nations.”
In a written release, President Obama said Payne was a “leader in U.S.-Africa policy, making enormous contributions toward helping to restore democracy and human rights across the continent.”
Donald Payne is survived by three children and four grandchildren.
