Supervisor Anna Payne Dies: 'No Fight Was Too Big For Her'

Anna Payne.
Credit: Submitted

Anna Payne may have been short in stature, but her dedication to the residents of Middletown Township towered above.

The 37-year-old Middletown Township supervisor and resident passed away, the municipality announced Tuesday.

Payne lived and defied the odds with cystic fibrosis since her youth and battled stage four colon cancer over the past four years. Her fight against cancer was carried out with grace and a determination to tell her story and advise others to keep an eye on their health.

Payne served as vice chair of the Pennsylvania Rare Disease Advisory Council, was the co-founder of the Bucks County Cystic Fibrosis Alliance, had been a presidential delegate, and previously was elected to be a township auditor before earning a spot as a supervisor. Payne was moved to serve in government several years ago after a career in financial services. Despite her political career, she enjoyed time with her dog and watching her idol, The Rock.

Middletown Township Supervisor Anna Payne speaking in August 2024.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

Raised in Levittown, Payne graduated from Neshaminy High School and Bucks County Community College.

In a 2021 post on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website, Payne recalled finding her cancer and noted how quickly it grew in size. She underwent treatments that held it at bay for some time.

“I hope for a future of a ‘healthy’ life,” she wrote. “I had big dreams and a lot of things I wanted to accomplish. Now those things are on hold because my future holds so much doubt. But I still cling to the hope that things will get better.”

Anna Payne at her first treatment. Credit: Submitted

Payne continued to help those with cystic fibrosis and those fighting cancer.

In recent years, two LevittownNow.com readers separately reached out to get Payne’s contact information from a reporter because they had family members dealing with cystic fibrosis. One of the readers shared a concern with a reporter that Payne, who was a Democrat and most recently ran for state representative, might not want to interact with her because they were a staunch Republican. However, Payne got their message and had called back and shared resources with the woman without even a hint of partisanship, a relief for the caller.

“Supervisor Payne courageously battled cystic fibrosis most of her life and stage four colon cancer for the past four years, demonstrating an incredible spirit, resilience, and positive attitude,” the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors wrote in a statement. “Her passion for Middletown Township and her advocacy for the community will not be forgotten. Her kindness, dedication and spirit will forever be an inspiration to us all.”

Payne worked for Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat, as an executive assistant.

“Anybody who knew Anna knows that they are a better person because she was in their life,” Ellis-Marseglia told LevittownNow.com. “Despite the battles she fought, she was always positive, spirited, and kind to everyone. I consider her a mentor in that way, and I am going to carry her in my heart and try be more like her. She’s going to be missed, terribly.”

State Rep. Joe Hogan, a Republican who defeated Payne in the November election, had known Payne from community work for years.

“No fight was too big for her if she thought it was the right thing,” he said. “And while we were briefly political opponents, Anna knew when to put politics aside for the good of her community.”

Ashley Ehasz, the Democrat who unsuccessfully ran twice for Congress, recalled Payne and her tenacious attitude.

“Anna was one of the very first people with whom I discussed running for office. She was fierce, compassionate, funny as hell, and had an incredible knowledge of our community and the change we deserve,” Ehasz said. “She was a fighter for that change through and through, and will be deeply missed. See you on the other side of the rainbow, Anna.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro with Anna Payne last year. Credit: Josh Shapiro

The Middletown Township police and fire and emergency services departments both memorialized Payne. The Middletown Community Foundation, where Payne had been a board member, also shared a recognition.

Payne had said one of the best days of her life was when The Rock sent her a message of support during her cancer fight.

“Anna Payne, of Middletown, Pennsylvania. Middletown, stand up! You’ve got Anna Payne representing with the strength and she is coming through,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said in the video to Payne.

“I’m eternally thankful. That video and moment will go down as one of the best days of my life,” Payne stated at the time.

Payne recalled in a 2019 interview that she grew up with cystic fibrosis, not knowing if she would live to 30. But advances in medicine made that possible and she advocated so others with cystic fibrosis could have the life she did.

“Life is really short, and if I can help someone else have a better life … that’s the kind of impact I want to have in the world,” she said.

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