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Former Fort Worth Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens Dies at 71

She retired in 2025 as the council's longest-serving member after leading District 5 for more than a decade.

Overview

  • Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker confirmed her death Monday and lauded her as a champion for east Fort Worth and the Stop Six community.
  • Bivens disclosed a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in October 2025 and received care at UT Southwestern's Clements University Hospital; an official cause of death has not been released.
  • Colleagues and successors shared tributes emphasizing her mentorship and pragmatic, nonpartisan style, including Deborah Peoples, Charles Lauersdorf, Elizabeth Beck, Michael Crain and Macy Hill.
  • Her public service prioritized neighborhood revitalization, economic development and advocacy for older residents.
  • Before elected office, she worked on the CBS News Texas assignment desk in 1996–97.