We received the news over the weekend (September 13, 2021) of the death of former WGN News Anchor and journalist, Allison Payne (February 12, 1964 to September 1, 2021). Allison was a 9 time Emmy Award winner and a 21 year anchorwoman with WGN TV. Allison was also an international journalist and popular public speaker.
It is in her role as a fellow board member that I best remember Allison Payne. In the early 1990's Allison and I both served on the Board of Directors of The Reach Out and Touch Organization, founded by Its Executive Director, Reverend Jeffery Haynes. Reach Out and Touch was located in the Englewood community, on the south side of Chicago. Englewood is now called Chi-Rac and has a reputation as the murder capital of the U.S. When we were board members of Reach Out and Touch, the community was impacted by gang related gun violence over the control of crack cocaine sales. Reach Out and Touch offered several programs to address community challenges including prevention services, recreational programming as alternatives to drug activity, gang intervention, entrepreneur services, employment opportunities and addictions services.
At each board meeting, held in Englewood, was Emmy Award winner Allison Payne. She was famous and there she was in Englewood solving problems. The cameras were not present at those board meetings and there she was, a humble super star. Perhaps part of her motivation to serve was her own public story of addiction and recovery. On several occasions Allison brought pies which she baked to our board meetings. What celebrity would do that? Allison Payne! While I am sad writing this post, I know that Heaven just received a humble servant in Allison Payne. Rest in Peace Allison.