Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and the Payne family have announced that the Honorable Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. will lie in state in the Essex County Historic Courthouse on Wednesday, May 1, and his funeral will be at the Cathedral Basilica on Thursday, May 2.
Congressman Payne died yesterday at age 65 after suffering a cardiac episode on April 6. In 2022, Verona was moved into the 10th Congressional District, which he had represented since 2012.
The Payne family has a legacy of public service and Donald M. Payne Jr. continued that tradition as an elected official representing Newark and Essex County as a Councilman, Freeholder and Congressman. He is the third person to lie in state in the Essex County Historic Courthouse; his father Congressman Donald M. Payne, Sr. in 2012 and Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver in 2023.
Congressman Payne will lie in state for public viewing on Wednesday, May 1, from 12 noon to 12 midnight and the Essex County Historic Courthouse, 470 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Newark.
Members of the public will enter and exit through the West entrance of the building on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Handicap accessibility is available via the entrance under the front steps of the Historic Courthouse on Springfield Avenue; upon entering the building there is an elevator to bring handicap visitors to the first floor. If unable to locate this entrance, contact Sheriff’s Communication at 973-621-4111 for assistance. Parking for the public will be available in the Essex County Juror’s Parking Lot; the entrance is on South Orange Avenue.
The funeral service for Congressman Payne, Jr. will be held on Thursday, May 2, at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge Street, Newark. Parking for the funeral service is available at 208 Clifton Avenue across the street from the Cathedral Basilica.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Donald M. Payne, Sr. Global Foundation, 111 Mulberry Street, Unit 5C, Newark, NJ 07102.
