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Detroit’s Longest-Serving Wayne County Commission Member, Jewel Ware, Has Passed Away

Jewel Ware, the longest-serving member of the Wayne County Commission, has passed away. Ware, 66, passed away Tuesday (Dec. 8), just five weeks after being reelected to serve Ware’s 14th,…

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Jewel Ware, the longest-serving member of the Wayne County Commission, has passed away.

Ware, 66, passed away Tuesday (Dec. 8), just five weeks after being reelected to serve Ware's 14th, two-year term on the commission.

Ware was a Democrat and represented Wayne County's 2nd District.

In a statement, commission chairperson Alisha Bell said commissioners were "devastated by the sudden passing of Jewel Ware this morning." Bell also called her "the dean of the commission."

"I was proud to nominate her as commission chair pro-tem during her most recent term. Residents of the 2nd District have lost a true champion, and our heartfelt condolences go out to her loving family," Bell added.

Ware graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy and received a bachelor's and master's degrees from the university, being certified social worker, according to county's biography.

Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.