Former President Clinton May Attend Payne’s Funeral

Former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could be among the guests paying tribute next week to the late Rep. Donald Payne, who will be laid to rest Wednesday.

The public can pay its respects to Payne at the Essex County Historic Courthouse, where his body will lie in state overnight from 1 p.m. Monday until 8 a.m. Tuesday.

The late congressman will then be taken to the Metropolitan Baptist Church, 149 Springfield, Ave., for another public viewing from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

As thousands of mourners from around the world are expected, Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard will be closed to vehicles from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. The closure will be from West Market Street to Springfield Avenue.

The Clintons are a "maybe" for the funeral service at Metropolitan Baptist Church 11 a.m Wednesday, said three officials familiar with funeral plans. The officials — representing the church, law enforcement and government — spoke on condition of anonymity.

Payne, a human rights champion whose reputation extended well beyond the 10th District he served for 23 years, died of colon cancer Tuesday. He was 77.

Payne, the only black congressman elected from New Jersey, will be buried in a family plot at Glendale Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Info from: The Star-Ledger, http://www.nj.com