This was posted on Thursday, February 8, 2017 by Rodney Ho on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Brenda Wood wore all white on her last day at 11Alive.
She wanted something bright and hopeful on what ended up being a good day for her. She was able to leave on her own terms and close her time on Atlanta TV surrounded by friends she cared about.
Half of her final broadcast at 6 p.m. Wednesday night was focused solely on her. 11Alive reporter Matt Pearl, who said he was inspired by her moral strength and purpose, did a lovely review about her time at the station. Several of her colleagues offered their best wishes, from Melissa Long to Doug Richards to Chris Holcomb. Amanda Davis, now mornings at CBS46, provided kind words. “My sister in the movement!” Davis said on air. Former Atlanta mayor and U.N. ambassador Andrew Young and playwright Kenny Leon also offered taped testimonials.
The party after the broadcast featured dozens of invited colleagues from Wood’s life. Fred Kalil, now at CBS46, returned to his old haunt. Former WSB-TV legend Monica Pearson was there. Others came by to wish her well including her two daughters Kristen Burke and Kandis Jackson, Paul Ossmann (former Fox 5, also at CBS46), Karyn Greer (formerly 11Alive, now CBS46), Kevin Rowson (now at the FBI), Russ Spencer (WAGA), Jaye Watson (who just left two weeks earlier) and former WAGA news director and Atlanta Press Club Hall of Famer Budd McEntee.
She has been the only anchor in town to do commentaries every day. Here is her final Last Word:
“It’s been privilege covering history as it unfolded, telling the stories from people of all walks of life, people who are compassionate and courageous, bold and wise and generous. Stories of visionaries and outliers, people who have inspired and grown and stretched me into a better person. I leave with a mental vault full of incredible encounters and unforgettable experiences. I hope that I was able to make someone else’s life better in return. This is a tough business. I owe my longevity to viewers who have watched me over the decades from Huntsville to Nashville to Memphis to Atlanta. All those viewers, all these years. That’s a blessing and I’m overwhelmed by your many kind messages and well wishes and honors from city and county and state leaders as I start a new chapter. Thank you. A huge thank you to all my coworkers, smart, dedicated, curious, creative professionals who have taught me so much.
I will miss you. All of this has given me wings to carve a new path, to climb new mountains, to pursue creative ventures outside of news. So I’ll be busy doing that though I am not going anywhere. I am staying right here in the ATL. Then there’s my family which is the center of my world and fueled me every single day to do my job. I’ll be spending more time with them including my precious and only grandchild Duke [a dog]. As Oscar Wilde once said, ‘Live, live the wonderful life that is in you. Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing. I plan to do just that. It’s been quite a ride for which I am eternally grateful. And now it’s on to the new. Time for me to say, ‘Brenda.. out!’ “
She then air kissed the crowd, giving an extra long hug to her co-host Jeff Hullinger. She then wished her replacement Shiba Russell well. Chris Holcomb gave her huge flowers as everyone applauded her.
And here’s Jon Shirek’s touching history of her broadcast career:
Here is a couple of Facebook Live videos I did while Wood was being feted:
Fred Kalil, Amanda Davis and Paul Ossmann at Brenda Wood’s going away party at 11Alive February 8, 2017. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/ rho@ajc.com
Atlanta TV royalty: Amanda Davis and Monica Pearson flank Brenda Davis. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/ rho@ajc.com
Karyn Greer and Matt Pearl. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/ rho@ajc.com
Brenda’s almost empty desk the day she left. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/ rho@ajc.com
Brenda’s desk note.
The crowd watches Shirek’s tribute, including copious amounts of video of Wood in her earlier days. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com
She received a cartoon of herself with her male anchors at 11Alive in the past, joking called “The Pips.”
Chief meteorologist Chris Holcomb called himself one of her “TV husbands.” CREDIT: Rodney Ho/ rho@ajc.com
Veteran 11Alive reporter Bill Liss wishes Wood off. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/ rho@ajc.com
Bob Walker, the former 11Alive general manager, hired Wood away from WAGA in 1997. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/ rho@ajc.com
