Memphis lost one of its brightest lights. Sunya Payne, the beloved Memphis Tigers superfan and longtime educator, passed away on July 12 at the age of 55, and tributes have poured in from across the city.
For Tigers fans, Payne was unmistakable, waving her blue and grey pompoms from her seat at FedExForum and cheering louder than anyone in the building, home or away. As senior deputy athletics director Tim Duncan recalled, no visiting crowd could out-fan her.
But her impact ran far deeper than game day. Payne devoted her career to Memphis students, starting as a teacher in 1997, becoming a principal, and later serving as director of partnerships and advancement for Memphis-Shelby County Schools. A graduate of Whitehaven High School, LeMoyne-Owen College, and Christian Brothers University, she poured into young people with an energy that colleagues say made everyone feel seen.
Her Tiger spirit and her devotion to this city’s children leave a legacy that Memphis will carry forward.
Read the full tribute from the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
