MANSFIELD — A scholarship fund has been established through the Richland County Foundation to honor former Mansfield Municipal Court Judge Jeff Payton, a Mansfield native known for his work advancing justice and community service during his life.
The Judge Jeff Payton Scholarship Fund will support minority students pursuing higher education, whether at a four-year college or a career technical education center. Officials said the fund is a tribute to Payton’s belief in expanding opportunities for others.
Payton, affectionately called “Mansfield’s Son,” graduated from Malabar High School and returned to the city after college. His legal career included an internship with the U.S. Department of Justice and serving as the first director of the Richland County Legal Services Association. He later worked as a juvenile court magistrate.
Key milestones in his career include:
- 1975: He earned his law degree from Cleveland State University’s John Marshall College of Law and began practicing.
- 1987: He became the first Black elected official in Richland County.
- 2009: He retired after serving as a municipal court judge.
Payton, who died in 2023, was a strong supporter of local unions, which backed his elections. He was known for his ability to connect with people from every neighborhood, his remarkable memory for names and his habit of learning the personal stories of those he met.
“He saw everybody as a person. He lived a powerful life and remained one of Mansfield’s brightest stars,” his wife, Carol Payton, said.
The Richland County Foundation is encouraging donations to the fund. Contributors can give online by visiting the foundation’s website, clicking “donate” and searching for the Judge Jeff Payton Scholarship Fund. Checks may be mailed to the foundation with “Judge Jeff Payton Scholarship Fund” in the memo line. Gifts of appreciated stock or through an IRA are also accepted.
For more information, contact Maura Teynor, chief advancement officer, at 419-525-3020 or mteynor@rcfoundation.org.
The Richland County Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1945. It pools donations to make grants that improve quality of life across the county.