Coy
Coy C. Payne
Coy C. Payne
was born May 22, 1929 in Sulphur Springs, Texas to Scott Payne and Virgie Mae Stribling, cotton sharecroppers. Coy was the second of nine children, Coy often labored with his family in the fields throughout his childhood and adolescence. It was important to Coy’s father that his children be educated; Mr. Scott Payne Coy’s father made the decision to move to Arizona, Coy was twelve at the time., The families first location was called 12-mile corner in the Eloy area. After working a while and securing funds for transportation. They relocated to Chandler, where Coy attended middle school in Mesa and Chandler before the district decided to make a place for Black Children. Eventually they opened some office buildings over at Ocotillo, Goodyear [Ocotillo, Chandler, Arizona] Ocotillo Elementary School was born. When it came time for High School, Coy was introduced to segregated Carver High School in Phoenix, an hour-long bus ride away. After dropping out of Arizona State University in 1949, Coy was drafted by the United State Army and served in Korea. After he returned, he met and married Willie Esta Woods, a community activist and certified accountant. Coy Returned to school on the G.I. Bill, he received his B. S. degree in education from Arizona State University in 1958.
Coy started his career by teaching the third grade in Chandler. He would go on to work in Chandler area schools for thirty-one years, teaching and serving as Assistant Principal of Chandler Junior High School until he retired from education in 1989. Out of college, Coy became active in the community by joining the Chandler Human Relations Committee and working to improve race relations in the area. From there, he was appointed to various other city organizations, including the chairmanship of the Chandler Housing Authority. In 1980, at the advice of the Mayor of Chandler, Coy ran for and won an at large seat on the Chandler City Council, serving two terms from 1982 to 1989. In 1990, Coy ran for Mayor and won by a landslide, becoming the first African American to serve in the State of Arizona.
Coy served two terms as Mayor of Chandler, from 1990 to 1994, and successfully oversaw the huge economic and population boom that occurred across the “Sun Belt.” He and his wife continued to be involved in community government and service. A middle school has been named in their honor, Payne Jr. High School.
A visitation will be held Friday, December 20, 2019 from 6-8pm at Bueler Mortuary 14 W. Hulet Dr. Chandler, Arizona 85225. Services will be Monday, December 23, 2019 10am at the Chandler Center for the Arts 250 N. Arizona Ave. Chandler, Arizona 85225.
was born May 22, 1929 in Sulphur Springs, Texas to Scott Payne and Virgie Mae Stribling, cotton sharecroppers. Coy was the second of nine children, Coy often labored with his family in the fields throughout his childhood and adolescence. It was important to Coy’s father that his children be educated; Mr. Scott Payne Coy’s father made the decision to move to Arizona, Coy was twelve at the time., The families first location was called 12-mile corner in the Eloy area. After working a while and securing funds for transportation. They relocated to Chandler, where Coy attended middle school in Mesa and Chandler before the district decided to make a place for Black Children. Eventually they opened some office buildings over at Ocotillo, Goodyear [Ocotillo, Chandler, Arizona] Ocotillo Elementary School was born. When it came time for High School, Coy was introduced to segregated Carver High School in Phoenix, an hour-long bus ride away. After dropping out of Arizona State University in 1949, Coy was drafted by the United State Army and served in Korea. After he returned, he met and married Willie Esta Woods, a community activist and certified accountant. Coy Returned to school on the G.I. Bill, he received his B. S. degree in education from Arizona State University in 1958.
Coy started his career by teaching the third grade in Chandler. He would go on to work in Chandler area schools for thirty-one years, teaching and serving as Assistant Principal of Chandler Junior High School until he retired from education in 1989. Out of college, Coy became active in the community by joining the Chandler Human Relations Committee and working to improve race relations in the area. From there, he was appointed to various other city organizations, including the chairmanship of the Chandler Housing Authority. In 1980, at the advice of the Mayor of Chandler, Coy ran for and won an at large seat on the Chandler City Council, serving two terms from 1982 to 1989. In 1990, Coy ran for Mayor and won by a landslide, becoming the first African American to serve in the State of Arizona.
Coy served two terms as Mayor of Chandler, from 1990 to 1994, and successfully oversaw the huge economic and population boom that occurred across the “Sun Belt.” He and his wife continued to be involved in community government and service. A middle school has been named in their honor, Payne Jr. High School.
A visitation will be held Friday, December 20, 2019 from 6-8pm at Bueler Mortuary 14 W. Hulet Dr. Chandler, Arizona 85225. Services will be Monday, December 23, 2019 10am at the Chandler Center for the Arts 250 N. Arizona Ave. Chandler, Arizona 85225.
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