In Fond Memory of Donald Payne

Reuters Pictures Former Sudanese child slave Simon Deng (C) laughs with U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (R) (D-NY) and Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) after Deng completed his 300-mile (483 km) walk from the United Nations in New York to the Capitol Building in Washington, in this April 5, 2006 file photo. Payne, 77, New Jersey's first and only African American congressman, died on March 6, 2012, after battling colon cancer, his brother said.

Although he never commented, Representative Payne was a frequent visitor to this blog, and I considered him a friend of ours.  He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, colleagues, constituents, and all who benefited  from his long years of service.  Rest in peace, dear friend.  I will miss seeing you here.