I never got to know WTVC anchor MaryEllen Locher as well as I would have liked. In the world of local TV news, those of us who work as Channel 3 anchors see each other every day. I’ve seen Cindy Sexton and Paul Barys thousands of times over the years, day in and day out. There just aren’t many opportunities to mingle with “the competition.”
I first met “Mel,” as her friends called her, at Riverbend in 1988 back in the days when all the stations sent their anchors to do live broadcasts. She was friendly, and of course quite beautiful. I found out that she and my wife Cindy had Penn State in common, before they moved south for broadcasting jobs. After that, I only saw her a handful of times in person, including her wedding and that of a co-worker or two. Again, always friendly, always beautiful.
Like every other news viewer in Chattanooga, I would occasionally notice her absence from the Channel 9 anchor desk, often for weeks at a time. When one is on TV each day, there are no secrets, and soon it became public knowledge that Mel was battling cancer. As I recall, she was barely thirty when she was first diagnosed. It came and it went a few times over the years, and for long stretches we were hopeful she had beaten the disease. But as is too often the case, it would return with a vengeance.
Mel’s life ended at the age of 45, on June 9, 2005. She was survived by a loving husband, a young son, and thousands of friends. This was in the pre-Facebook era, so these were real friends, not virtual ones. They had hung on every word about her condition, they had sent her cards, and they had donated comfortable and stylish hats for fellow cancer patients (“Hats from the Heart,” one of Mel’s pet causes). I was particularly touched by this excerpt from her obituary: It is not often in this life that one is blessed to be touched by someone whose very presence shines a ray of hope and faith to the darkest corners of the world around her. So true.
Her longtime co-anchor Bob Johnson was among the speakers at her memorial service. He paid tribute to “My good friend, my buddy. She had such a good heart.” He told me that in the male-dominated newsroom of the 1980s, “She was one of the guys. She could tell a joke, she could take a joke. No big ego, no pretensions. Just a smart, fun lady.”
Here is a video tribute:
I’ve made more than a hundred talks during the past couple of years about my local radio/TV book, visiting various churches and clubs. I show a few photos from the book on the big screen, and MaryEllen’s photo always makes folks tear up a bit. They haven’t gotten over her yet. When you invite someone into your home, night after night, they’re like family. When MaryEllen left us, we lost a friend. One we had cheered on and pulled for. We sure were proud when she devoted so much of her time, that she knew might be limited, to causes that would help others in their personal battles. She was a founding member of Chattanooga’s Make A Wish Foundation, which has helped so many ailing young people see their dreams come true.
Today, her name lives on, as it will forever at Memorial Hospital’s MaryEllen Locher Breast Center. The folks who established it, and who run it today, are committed to excellence. My wife tells me the people who work there are especially good at people skills, making visitors feel comfortable.
Established in 2007, the center meets MaryEllen’s original vision of making the breast cancer journey easier for all women. Working alongside Memorial Hospital, she provided insight and inspiration for the development of a breast center that would combine the best possible medical care in an atmosphere of calm and understanding. Reducing the time between diagnosis and treatment was her primary goal.
It’s a great tribute to have your name attached to a health care facility with a solid reputation. Mel deserves only the best.
I teared up at just the glance of her photo! I think about her often, about how young she was at her first diagnosis when most websites and most Drs. recommend your first mammogram should start at age 40! I wonder how her son is getting along in life and I just miss her smiling face on TV. May you RIP Mary Ellen, we love you here in Chattanooga.
I read with tears in my eyes your wonderful tribute to Mel. Can’t say any news anchor has ever had such an impact on me and my family. Mel was such a beam of sunshine each day as she gave the news and we followed her battle with cancer. No one could have wanted Mel to beat this thing more than the people and her friends here in Chattanooga. It was a sad, sad day when we lost her. We shall always remember her smiling face and wonderful friendship. Please keep her memory alive and we hope to see more about her son and family. Please keep us posted on how they are doing and what does through their mind. One thing that sticks in my mind was a comment made by her son and that was he said he knew the third time might not work out as well. Kudos to you Mel and we shall always love you.
Mary Ellen was special because she made everyone she was speaking with feel that they were special to her…we miss you, Mary Ellen…love always…kathy
I saw the Memorial Hospital Breast Cancer Bus at Sam’s Saturday. I loved it. Mary Ellen’s name in great big letters. I thought about her and her work for the cure of Breast Cancer. Such a beautiful lady. RIP Mary Ellen and you have not been forgotten.
I follow Mary Ellen’s story and will never forget. When you are in the this battle it gives you a special connection. 9 year survivors and still fighting. Cancer sucks but, never wins.
I live just outside Chattanooga and I absolutely loved watching Mel, Bob, and Darrell. They made us feel like family. Now you David and Cindy are my brother and sister of the news world. Thanks for remembering Mary Ellen she should never be forgotten because there are to few like her.
David, that was wonderful!!! well done!
David, I remember meeting Mary Ellen at Hamilton Place Mall once where she was working I believe at a some ‘booth’ probably for charity. My husband Jim was with me & he was thrilled as he got a kiss from Mary Ellen. She was a special person & I really appreciate your effort in keeping her memory alive. I also have your book, by the way ! loved it ! You are also a ‘favorite Chattanoogan’ David.
Good article!!! I didn’t know Mary Ellen as well as I would like to have known her. Only after the cancer problem became public did I feel like I knew her. She was a beautiful woman. My regards to her family. I have always watched channel 3 news. I love Cindy Sexton, David Carrol, David Karnes, Jed, Latrice and of course Nick Austin . I must not forget Julie Edwards. You all are so professional. Thank you!!!!
From the moment we met, we were kindred spirits. A true friend, a wonderful wife, great mom and a terrific journalist. You are missed every day, MaryEllen. Thanks, Dave, for the tribute.
Good to hear from you, Roxanne, thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Thank you David Carroll, as always you did such a great job of Remembrance. I met Mary Ellen at 1st Presbyterian where she came to speak and I felt as if I had known her for a lifetime. She had that God given “something” very special. My husband and I were in Oregon when she died and my son called me to tell me the news. He knew I would cry. I still think of her very often.
Blessings to her husband and son and to everyone who loved this very special person.
Mary
every time i see her picture or her name makes me cry to me there will never be anyone that can fill her shoes its funny how you never meet someone but fell you have known them there whole life 11 years but seems like yesterday may she rest in peace and hope to see her again someday
What a lovely tribute. I knew nothing about Mary Ellen but have of course heard her name many times over the past 7 years living in Chattanooga. We’re the same age. I had no idea she was so young when she died. She must have been a very special person.
“Fire tore through a home this morning in Chattanooga.” As a news producer, Mel taught me one enduring journalism lesson you won’t find in any text book. You never put the time an event occurred at the beginning or end of a sentence. It is always embedded in the middle somewhere. “This morning.. aren’t the strongest words in the sentence,” she’d say, “fire, is.” And “it seems like an after – thought if you tack it on the end.” She was right. She was always right. I was at her home the night before she passed. I didn’t get to see her.. she was so sick. Her husband have me a message she whispered to him. “Tell Rusty I love him.”
Great tribute to a woman who left a wonderful legacy to our community. Thanks for your great work, David.
“If more cancer means more Jesus then I choose more cancer.” Mel told me this just 2 weeks before she passed.
(FYI: Her son graduated from University of Alabama law school several years ago. He’s married, has one child, and lives in Chattanooga. He husband is retired and lives here as well.)
David, she was the real deal. When I sang a solo at church for the Christmas or Easter cantata, she was the first to tell me what a good job I had done. There was no fake in M.E. From TV to real life, she was just a beautiful person.
I will never, ever forget Mary Ellen! I remember how I always wanted to meet her. Back then I always watched channel 9 news because I just loved Mel, Bob Johnson, Darrell Patterson and the whole news team. Somehow I felt very close to them. I absolutely loved to hear Mel report the news! Even though I loved them all, for the life of me I can’t remember everyone’s name. I was so sad when Mel was diagnosed with cancer. I followed her all those years during her journey. And like all of her family, friends and viewers I was devastated when I heard that she had passed away!I cried for days, every time they talked about her on tv especially. I will never forget Mary Ellen. She felt like family! I’ve since been watching channel 3 for over 10 years. Now you all have become my tv family! You, Greg, Cindy,LaTrice,Calvin (whom of course I knew from channel 9),Michelle, Lori, John, and of course the entire wonderful weather team! I especially love Brittany Beggs! I will never forget Mel, and what she stood for and the honorable life that she lived. I know she’s resting in peace, because I know where she is! She didn’t hide the fact that Jesus was her Lord and Savior! May God bless you all, and thank you David for writing this article on Mary Ellen!