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WHEREAS, Tonya Payne was born on April 12, 1964 to the late Gloria Jean Hill-Payne and the late James Henry Payne Jr.; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Payne grew up in Pittsburgh graduating from Langley High School. She then graduated from Community College of Allegheny County and Duquesne University; and,
WHEREAS, Tonya was known to many as a kind, compassionate person with a desire to help people with great love for her community. Tonya was never known to back down from a challenge. As a bold risk taker, she would accomplish what others deemed impossible. She did not shy away from truth and honesty; and,
WHEREAS, she was a strong community activist in the Hill District, the President of the Uptown Community Action Group, a local nonprofit organization, and was Ward Chair of her District. Because she wanted to help her community in a more effective way, she ran for and became the City Councilwoman of District 6, where she served for the term of 2005-2009; and,
WHEREAS, after leaving her council seat, she became the Safety Manager for Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority; and,
WHEREAS, beneath her hard-core exterior, was a beautiful person with a wonderful sense of humor and a heart of gold; and,
WHEREAS, she was a loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt and grandmother; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby mourn the loss of a past colleague and friend who died peacefully on Sunday, May 31, 2020; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare, Monday, June 8, 2020 to be “Tonya Payne Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.