An award winning veteran TV journalist in Atlanta died suddenly Wednesday after suffering a ‘massive spontaneous stroke,’ while waiting to board a flight for her stepfather’s funeral.
Amanda Davis, 62, who had spent 26 years at Fox5 Atlanta, said on Facebook that her ‘pops’ had passed last week. She was waiting to board her flight at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, to head to his Texas funeral when she had the stroke Wednesday.
The veteran news anchor, who had opened up about her struggles with alcoholism, had posted a message to her Facebook about celebrating Christmas after losing a loved on.
Amanda Davis, 62, passed suddenly of a stroke while waiting to board a plane bound for her step father’s funeral in Texas
Davis (second from left) was a Fox5 Atlanta anchor for 26 years before retiring in 2013 following a very public DUI arrest
‘Stay strong, keep praising the Lord,’ Davis wrote.
Davis had retired in 2013 from Fox5 Atlanta, following a very public DUI arrest, according to the Atlanta Constitution Journal.
She opened up about her struggles with alcoholism, which she said were ignited later on in life, in a 2016 interview with ACJ.
Davis had said in the interview she had grappled with coming to terms with her disease: ‘Even then I questioned it,’ she said. ‘I wanted to believe that there was still a way they could help me control it.’
Her colleagues shared messages of love and support for the anchor and her family.
Davis was arrested in 2013 for drunk driving and retired soon after
Former colleague and co-anchor at Fox5, Russ Spencer, who worked with her for 15 years, shared on social media: ‘Amanda Davis has gone to be with God, leaving us — leaving me — shocked and heartbroken by the suddenness of her passing.’
‘Amanda was 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,’ Spencer added.
Spencer also sent his condolences to Davis’ only daughter, Melora.
In a statement, the network said: ‘Her family is asking for privacy at this difficult time.’
According to CBS46, her ‘true labor of love’ was helping find permanent homes for Georgia foster care children. She also helped launch a segment titled Wednesday’s Child, which helped find Atlanta children find permanent homes.