Shocking and tragic news out of the world of television this week:
Amanda Davis, a popular news anchor in Atlanta, died on Wednesday after she suffered a “massive spontaneous stroke” while on the way to to her stepfather’s funeral.
She was 62 years old.
According to local reports, the CBS46 reporter was rushed to a hospital on Tuesday evening due to a medical emergency at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
She passed away the next night.
Davis had only just informed Twitter followers a few hours earlier that her "pops" had died and that his funeral was planned for Wednesday.
Per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she was at the airport and heading to Texas to say farewell when she suffered this fatal stroke.
Her final post on Facebook was shared on Christmas Eve and featured a text graphic about the difficulty of experiencing one"s first Christmas after losing a close friend or relative.
It included the caption: “Stay strong, keep praising the Lord."
Davis had served as a news anchor in Atlanta for more than three decades,having previously worked at FOX5 Atlanta, where she helped launch Good Day Atlanta way back in 1992.
She left that station in 2013 and went to work for a local CBS affiliate, which Tweeted the following in the wake of her passing:
Today we"re taking the time to remember a member of our family, #AmandaDavis, who tragically passed away after suffering a stroke on Tuesday.
If you have a favorite memory, please share them with us.
Davis gained a unique following and formed a close bond with viewers after she opened up about an alcohol addiction in 2016 with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“It felt good,” she said about her treatment program, adding at the time:
“I had learned a lot and gotten to the underlying issue for the drinking and my depression, which was the loss of that relationship. I was wallowing in that grief and drinking to feel better.”
In the wake of this stunning news, many former and current colleagues took to social media to express their condolences.
For example, CBS46 morning traffic reporter Julie Smith Tweeted:
“In total and complete shock right now. Please pray for comfort and peace for Amanda’s family. They’ve been through a lot & need our prayers.
"Please pray also for all of our @cbs46 family as we deal with the loss of our colleague & friend. Rest In Peace Amanda.”
Added anchor Sharon Reed:
“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."
Watch the following video for more on this sad situation:
