She will be deeply missed.
Beloved Atlanta news anchor, Jovita Moore, has joined the ancestors, People.com reports. Moore was born and raised in New York City, earning a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Columbia University before working at stations in Memphis and Arkansas. In 1998, she began her career at WSB-TV, making Atlanta her second home and reporting on everything from President Barack Obama’s historic inauguration to her journey with fibroids. During her career, she garnered 9 Emmy Awards, and earlier this year, she shared with social media her desire to give herself her flowers.
“2020 reminded me YOLO, and life is short; give yourself your own flowers if you have to and never ever dim your shine. I’m humbled to have been awarded 9 Emmys, so far. But I only had 2 in my possession. I decided to order the remaining seven and promised not to let them sit in a box in my garage. These five just arrived. So here’s your first look. There’s a shelf waiting for each one of them at home, and I”m so excited to put them on display,” Moore wrote.
About seven months ago, doctors discovered two tumors on Moore’s brain after noticing odd symptoms and almost passed out while in the grocery store.
“I was concerned about why, all of a sudden, I was forgetful and disoriented. Just not feeling myself, and feeling like I was in a fog,” Moore told reporters in April.
She was eventually diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer that can affect the brain or spinal cord. While there was no cure, Moore underwent chemotherapy and radiation in hopes of slowing down the cancer’s progress. The beloved anchor passed away at the age of 53, peacefully in her home with family by her side, her WSB-TV co-anchor Justin Farmer shared with viewers on Friday.
Farmer said station general manager Ray Carter had told staffers that morning of the devastating news.
“Scripture says that there’s a time to be joyous, and a time to laugh, and a time to cry. And today, we will cry. And we will remember and honor our colleague and friend Jovita,” Farmer said.
Many took to social media to share their condolences, including former Georgia representative and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams.
“Today, we mourn the passing of @jovitamoore, who used her voice and platform to highlight important issues impacting Atlantans for more than 20 years. May God bless her family, loved ones, and @wsbtv colleagues in their time of grief,” Abrams wrote.
The station shared a touching tribute to their colleague, encouraging viewers to honor Moore and her legacy by donating to two organizations that meant a lot to her – Our House Atlanta and The National Brain Tumor Society.
WATCH: @GMA honored Channel 2’s Jovita Moore this morning with a beautiful segment remembering her.@tjholmes Thank you for that touching story. We’re in tears with you this morning. pic.twitter.com/0GV5qrpTJZ
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) November 1, 2021
The beloved anchor volunteered at civic associations and non-profit organizations while mentoring students and sitting on several boards of directors. In 2017, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Southeast Chapter honored Moore with one of its most prestigious career awards, the induction into the Silver Circle.
Jovita was a member of the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists. She was a member of Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 2007, and a member of Outstanding Atlanta’s Class of 2004. She was featured on the 2007 list of 40 Under 40 by Georgia Trend Magazine, and was selected as one of Jezebel Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful.
Rest in power, Jovita! Because of you, we can!
Photo Courtesy of Jovita Moore/WSB-TV 2