Popular Texas daytime news anchor Shatanya Clarke has died following her brain tumor diagnosis.
The news channel where 27-year-old Clarke was stationed, KFDX, delivered the sad news on Apr. 14. She reportedly passed away in her home that day.
“Shatanya was a bigger-than-life spirit,” News Director Adam P. Bradshaw said. “Her wit and personality could brighten anyone’s day. She had a passion for telling stories in a way that really hit home. To say our family and this community will miss her is the understatement of the year.”
The Jamaican-born journalist chronicled her declining health due to her brain tumor via a series on her YouTube channel titled Shantanya’s Road to Recovery.
She was diagnosed with a myxoid mesenchymal tumor at age 25 after thinking she was suffering from a severe headache. Clarke underwent major brain surgery and chemotherapy for her tumor.
“The truth is — Bob Marley said it first — you never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice,” she said in her last upload.
Clarke joined KFDX as a local reporter in 2018 and became an anchor in 2022. During the pandemic, she hosted the station’s Helping the Helpers franchise to ensure local charities received donations amid the spread of COVID-19.
Her co-worker Jaron Spor opened the newscast honoring his fallen friend and coworker.
She was also a volunteer for various organizations, including the Junior League of Wichita Falls. She created the “Soups and Socks” annual fundraiser for Faith Mission in the same community with KFDX photographer Brandon Cooper.
In addition, Clarke was a mentor at Booker T. Washington Elementary School and served on the Child Care Partners’ board.
The Texas reporter previously attended college at HBCU, Florida A&M, where she joined the historically Black sorority, Zeta Phi Beta. On Jan. 16, 1920, the sorority was founded at another prominent HBCU, Howard University.
On Saturday, her soror, Teri Connelly, shared a touching tribute to Clarke.
“A part of me had hoped that if I didn’t post it if I didn’t speak much on it, that it wouldn’t be real. When I got the first call, I still held out hope. Maybe they just heard wrong. But the more calls and texts, the conversations with her line sisters, the more the tears flowed.”
. I love you and will miss you. Take your rest, my triumphant Soror, until we can meet again .““We want to say thank you to Texoma for all of the condolences, support, and heartfelt stories you have shared with us as we navigate the loss of Shatanya,” KFDX said on their official website.
May she rest in peace!
