‘A Person of Great Faith’: Longtime News Anchor Dies After Having a Stroke On the Way Stepfather’s Funeral

Photo: WCGL
Photo: WCGL
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An already solemn day turned tragic when a longtime Atlanta news anchor died after suffering a massive stroke on her way to her stepfather’s funeral.

On Wednesday, WGCL evening anchors announced that their morning show colleague, Amanda Davis, had died at the age of 62 after she was hit by a “massive spontaneous stroke” at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport the day before while she was waiting for a flight.

CBS46 News

The anchors had just learned of Davis’s death seconds before making the announcement on-air, they said, describing Davis as being full of grace and class.

READ: Black Fox News Anchor Has a Powerful Message About the ‘Shackles of Racism That Keep Us Enslaved’

Davis’ friends, family and coworkers took to social media to express their shock over her sudden death. Her former colleague Russ Spencer, an evening anchor for WAGA, described Davis as “a person of great faith, a faith that seemed to deepen in recent years as she bravely confronted, and surmounted, challenges made more difficult because they were so public.”

“Amanda Davis has gone to be with God, leaving us — leaving me — shocked and heartbroken by the suddenness of her passing,” Spencer wrote.

Amanda Davis has gone to be with God, leaving us — leaving me — shocked and heartbroken by the suddenness of her…

Posted by Russ Spencer FOX 5 on Wednesday, December 27, 2017

RIP Amanda Davis. Our dear colleague passed away minutes ago. She was surrounded by her family and friends. We loved her here at CBS46. We will miss her and honor her memory.

Posted by Sharon Reed on Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Our former co-worker and friend Amanda Davis has passed away from a massive stroke. My heart hurts. Let’s all keep her family in our thoughts tonight.

Posted by Dana Fowle FOX 5 on Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Davis was on her way to her stepfather’s funeral and had recently been struggling with his death, according to reports. She was taken to a local hospital, where she died surrounding by family.

Davis’s face was a familiar one in the Atlanta metro area, where she had been a journalist for more than 30 years, WAGA reported. Before she landed in Atlanta, she had stints in Charlotte, North Carolina and Washington, D.C. She later began her Atlanta career at the Fox Atlanta affiliate before leaving in 2013.

Davis left a legacy at WAGA called Wednesday’s child, which helped foster children in Atlanta find forever homes.

“It brought her much joy that she was able to tell their story and find 32 children permanent, loving families in the first year alone,” the station said. “Her Wednesday’s Child legacy proudly lives on at FOX 5 to this day.”

Davis had also opened up about her struggles with alcoholism in the past, telling WCGL colleagues last year that she was able to battle the addiction and fix her relationships through Faith and Acceptance.

“I feel like I had been rescued by my faith,” she said.

CBS46 News

(H/T: WCGL)