Bre Payton, a conservative journalist and commentator who made appearances on Fox News and One American News Network, died suddenly on Friday. She was 26 years old.
A native of California, Payton studied journalism at Patrick Henry College and was hired as a staff writer by The Federalist in 2015. In that short time, she quickly became a rising star amongst conservative circles.
On Thursday, a friend had found Payton unresponsive and barely breathing. Payton was taken to the hospital, where it was determined after a CT scan and extensive testing that she had H1N1 flu and possibly meningitis. Her condition did not improve. By Friday she had passed away.
“Bre brightened the lives of everyone around her,” read an obituary posted on The Federalist. “She was joyful, hard-working, and compassionate, and she leaves behind friends and colleagues for whom she brought nothing but sweetness and light.”
Payton’s tragic end has been mourned by her industry peers.
So sad to hear about the loss of @Bre_payton – a star in the conservative movement and a woman of deep Christian faith.
Her family started the Bre Payton Scholarship Fund to support “young, rising, Christian leaders."pic.twitter.com/Epz2E7TSPt
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) December 29, 2018
Bre Payton was the kind of gal who, when grabbing a drink in Manhattan after a nighttime TV hit, would tell sweet stories about her loving parents. She was only just beginning.
— Matt Welch (@MattWelch) December 28, 2018
Ben and I are absolutely gutted and horrified by this news. Our prayers for @Bre_payton and her family. We are less without her – in every possible way. A wonderful, fearless, vibrant, intelligent young woman. Sending prayers to all of her family and friends during this darkness. https://t.co/K5nfRiB7gy
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) December 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/KennedyNation/status/1078754092305006592
Today my friend @Bre_payton passed away. I had the opportunity to spend 10 days in Israel with her this time last year. She was so ambitious and nice to everyone she met. My heart is broken. A true loss. God bless
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyDillon) December 28, 2018
Her colleagues at The Federalist also expressed shock and grief at the surprising news.
Bre has passed. We are devastated. Last we saw her, she was her funny, smart, vivacious self. Now lost to us so suddenly. pic.twitter.com/2qJ624A4Dl
— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) December 28, 2018
According to her bio on The Federalist, Payton was interested in “subjects ranging from Kanye West to Supreme Court rulings, to 2016 and breaking news.” She is survived by her parents and four siblings.
(Via Fox News)