Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner Tiffany Porter dies after breast cancer battle

Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner Tiffany Porter, who had survived two bouts of breast cancer, died on Thursday after a long battle with the disease, according to her office.

Porter, 43, was nearly a year-and-a-half into her term as tax commissioner, having been elected to the office in 2020. Porter was surrounded by her family and friends when she died, her office said.

“Ms. Porter overcame many obstacles to achieve the ambitious goals she set for herself,” Chief Deputy Tax Commissioner Denise Mitchell said. “I will always remember her as a strong, resilient, brilliant spirit, and all the joy she brought to us. We will miss her.”

Porter was the first African-American to be elected to the tax commissioner’s office in Gwinnett County, and was one of several Black women who were elected at the forefront of the county’s switch from Republican to Democratic control between the 2018 and 2020 election cycles.

She was the mother of four children — Brandon, 23, Nia, 20, Zoe, 17, and Tori, 15 — and had been the first person in her family to get a college degree as well as a law degree — which she got from Emory University — and to pass the bar exam. She was also the first African-American to serve as Duluth’s Municipal Court judge prior to being elected as tax commissioner.

Porter had lived in Gwinnett County for more than 20 years and was a member of Life Church International in Duluth and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority as well. She was also a certified NFL agent and a former Atlanta chiefs cheerleaders.

As tax commissioner, Porter made changes such as giving tax payers the ability to make an appointments to receive services at any office rather than having to show up and wait in line, and making workplace improvement for the 160 people who worked under her, officials in her office said.

There had been controversy as well after she proposed charging cities that used her office for billing an additional fee that would have supplemented her salary. Many of the eight cities that used her office for billing ultimately opted to do their own billing rather than pay the fee, however.

The tax commissioner’s office will be closed on the day of her funeral. That date has not yet been set.

Porter’s death was mourned by other elected officials in the county.

“On behalf of all of us at Gwinnett County Government, I send sincere condolences to the Tiffany’s family, friends and coworkers. We are all saddened by this loss,” Gwinnett County Commission Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson said in a statement.

In a Twitter post, state Rep. Jasmine Clark, D-Lilburn, said, “May her family find peace during these difficult times. Rest peacefully, Tiffany.”

State Sen. Nikki Merritt said, “My heart goes out to the family and friends of Tiffany Porter during this difficult time, particularly to her four children. No words are adequate. She was a trailblazer many times over throughout her life and had a passion for service to our Gwinnett community.

“She will be mourned and missed by many, may her memory be a blessing and an inspiration.”

Porter’s fellow tax commissioners in metro Atlanta are also mourning her death. As Gwinnett’s tax commissioner, Porter was active in the Georgia Association of Tax Officials.

“I will always remember Tiffany as being vibrant, energetic and outgoing,” Georgia Association of Tax Officials President and Walton County Tax Commissioner Derry Boyd said.

“She was an ambitious leader who strived to and accomplished many distinguished and professional successes.”

Cobb County Tax Commissioner Carla Jackson added, “The loss of our colleague is felt by many. She was extremely impactful. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family, friends, and staff.”

Mitchell will succeed Porter in the office and fill the remainder of Porter’s term in office, which is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2024.