Revered journalist and playwright Sharon McGhee lost her bout with ovarian cancer Sept. 11. She was 54.
The St. Louis native joined the staff at WVON-AM/1690 in December 1997. She was officially appointed to News Director in January 1998. McGhee was passionate about arts and entertainment, and amicably resigned from her position to pursue a career in writing and directing. In 2007 she wrote critically acclaimed “The Pocketbook Monologues;” subsequently directing multiple staged performance across the United States.
McGhee –– a U.S. Army veteran –– and her ‘Pocketbook’ made a guest appearance a few years ago in Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and one of the last times McGhee performed the play was at Malcolm X College in April 2010 where Theresa “Teesee” Fambro Hooks, LaDonna Tittle, TaQuoya Kennedy and Kathy Chaney were among her ‘Pocketbooks.’
She reprised her role as WVON’s News Director in 2008 until her health caused her to resign in 2010.
“Sharon McGhee was one of the most creative people I’ve ever known. Her determination, passion and drive brought her to Chicago where she excelled in everything that was on her professional and personal agenda. She was a rare breed determined to do it her way, and she did,” said Melody Spann Cooper, President of WVON.
During her battle with cancer she wrote and performed another play, The Cancer Monologues.
A memorial service for McGhee will be held in St. Louis September 22 at 12 p.m. at the William C. Harris Funeral Home, 9825 Halls Ferry Road. A memorial service sponsored by WVON in Chicago is pending.
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