“We lost a friend. Atlanta lost a legend.” Channel 2 colleagues remember Jovita Moore

ATLANTA — It is with a broken heart that we announce the passing of Channel 2′s Jovita Moore.

Jovita died overnight, seven months after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Jovita had been with Channel 2 Action News since 1998. She is survived by her mother and her two wonderful children, who she called the most important accomplishments of her life.

[PHOTOS: Jovita Moore through the years]

Today is a tough and heartbreaking day for everyone who knew and loves Jovita, especially her WSB-TV colleagues. Below are their tributes to Jovita in their own words.

Channel 2 anchor Jorge Estevez

Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein

“Gutted by the passing of our dear friend and colleague Jovita Moore. Jovita passed last night with her family by her side. She was a beautiful soul who loved Ch. 2, her friends and family and always repped the ATL. Please send your love and prayers to her family. Love u Jo.”

Channel 2 anchor Linda Stouffer

“Lots of tears today. Cancer is absolutely cruel. I’m praying for Jovita’s beautiful children who will need all the support of family right now. It’s just.. awful. Remembering her determination and fierce spirit: https://2wsb.tv/3pNt3dG”

Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brian Monahan

“It’s a tough day here at Channel 2, and I know a lot of Atlanta is feeling the same loss with the news our beautiful friend, Jovita, has passed away. Style, grace, and one hell of a news anchor, she was an even better mother to her beautiful children. She was one of the first people to reach out and congratulate me when I made the move to Channel 2 Action News This Morning a few years ago. She was also the one anchor at the station who was texting me in the middle of a Drake concert she knew I was at -- asking what I thought and how it was. We’re definitely sad today with her passing, but we’re going to smile too as we remember her beautiful life. We hope you will too.”

WSB Radio’s Mark Arum

“I was going through some personal stuff at the end of 2015. As only she could do, Jovita made me feel special. I wasn’t alone, she made everyone she met feel special. Rest easy to the classiest, most graceful person I ever met. Atlanta is going to miss you buddy.”

Channel 2 anchor Justin Wilfon

“We lost a friend. Atlanta lost a legend. We are heartbroken by the passing of our colleague, Jovita Moore. In 23 years at WSB, she traveled the world to tell the stories that matter, rightfully becoming an icon along the way. We’ll miss you, Jovita.”

Channel 2′s Alison Mastrangelo

“Our beloved @JovitaMoore passed away last night. She was the heart & soul of #Atlanta & in such a short time I learned so much from her on how to be a strong, intelligent, kind & caring anchor. She was beauty, grace, & everything you could want in a human being.”

Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne

“Know that Jovita Moore behind the scenes was every bit as wonderful and impressive as she was on the air, brilliant and beautiful, inside and out. Compassionate. God blessed our newsroom, our city and state, and me with her powerful, grace-filled radiance.”

Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Chris Jose

“I first met Jovita in 2017. She was one of the first to welcome me to a new city and always asked me about my family. Just heartbroken today. She was so fierce and loving. A true warrior. Please shower her family with love.”

Retired Meteorologist Karen Minton

“A very sad day. Sending up prayers for Jovita’s children and family. Wrapping my arms around my WSB family. You will be missed by all of Atlanta Jovita.”

Channel 2′s Carol Sbarge

“Very, very sad news to share. Jovita Moore has passed away after her brave battle against brain cancer. We are crying and sharing our many memories of this wonderful woman today. A true professional, a fantastic mom and a loving person. Prayers to her family.”

Channel 2′s Tom Jones

“It truly feels like I have lost a family member. May be because when you work with someone for nearly 20 years, you sit about 10 steps away from them in the newsroom, and you two share inside stories about life’s twists and turns, they truly become family. There is a huge hole in the heart of my WSBTV family right now.

It was back in 2002 when I arrived at WSB. She welcomed me to the station and gave me the same introduction I’m sure she gave many other new hires. “You know what WSB stands for,” she quizzed me. My mind racing for the correct answer, the first true test of my journalistic chops at my new home, I nervously and with little confidence said, “Excellence?” I’m sure she thought, “No big dummy.”She said it stands for Welcome South Brother.

She was a serious journalist! She didn’t play. She was such a caretaker of the truth and being fair and balanced. She always appreciated the trust the community had in us and she didn’t want that trust tampered with.

Jovita could make you uncomfortable. She had that brash New York persona. She could be very direct, and it provided cover for her tender loving side. I’ll never forget getting called into the principal’s office. The principal being Jovita. I had the audacity to have a party and not invite her. When she came into work she made a beeline to me. “How are you gonna throw a party and not invite me,” she said sternly, like my mother asking why I hadn’t fixed my bed before going out to play. And then she added, “And then you put pictures of all the fun on Facebook! Man! You wrong for that.” It felt like I disappointed a member of my family.

And now that family member is gone. Cancer truly sucks.

I will always remember you my beautiful sister. Remember those conversations about news stories. About cool vacation spots. Restaurants. Life. The craziness of the world.

Rest in eternal peace Jovita. No more pain. No more deadlines. No more teleprompter malfunctions. No more breaking news. Except the breaking news on the anchor desk in heaven. I will cherish the moments we had and not the memories we will never make. Love ya forever.”

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