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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT

WHQR's Classical Host Jemila Ericson Resigns

WHQR Public Radio announces that Jemila Ericson has resigned from her position as Classical Host and Midday Interview Host. Her last official day on air will be December 26, 2014. Jemila notified station management, staff and board of her decision on November 25, 2014. She has been a wonderful part of WHQR for over 20 years and will be deeply missed by colleagues and listeners alike.

In her letter, Jemila tells her friends and colleagues “I have decided to leave my job at WHQR. It’s been a long and wonderful ride, but I feel now that my time here is done…As the last “surviving” member of the Greenfield Street gang still on staff, I have enjoyed serving as an anchor to that colorful past. I have also been fully on board with helping move the Front Street station forward.” She continues, “I look forward to passing this job on to someone who will enjoy it as I have. I’ve been passionate about public radio, as you know. But I remember in the early days of the station, most of us realized that if we were in radio, we had to be in all the way, and that our lives would allow very little time for anything else…My deepest wish and strongest intention is to leave here with only blessings in my wake. I have loved everyone I’ve worked with.”

Jemila plans to return to her acting and storytelling roots.

Station Manager Cleve Callison says, “It was with great sadness that I learned of Jemila’s resignation. We at the station are united in our appreciation of what she has done, for so many years, to build up a community of listeners for WHQR through her dedication to her audience and to the arts communities - and so many others - all over the region. Jemila has seen, and weathered, many changes at the station. She has been an icon for so many in the region from the earlier days to the present. It’s impossible to conceive of “replacing” Jemila because her many talents and warm appeal are so caught up in who she is, and that can’t be duplicated. Her departure will be a loss, and we will have to use every ounce of creativity we can muster to figure out what happens next. In the meantime, we will treasure the remaining days Jemila will be spending with us. We will continue our commitment to live, local classical music, local interviews and the Cultural Calendar, in all of which Jemila left an incredible legacy of service. We thank Jemila for all of her wonderful time at WHQR.”

 

Chair of the Friends of Public Radio Board of Directors David Zumbro says, “It has been an honor to have such an amazing person as Jemila represent and be one of the major voices of WHQR all these years. She is an extremely talented individual on air and in person. Her voice has been an anchor for Wilmington's music, arts, and community events. Her soothing presence will be sorely missed. I wish her the absolute best in her future endeavors and hope that she will be a frequent guest of the station.”

WHQR will honor Jemila and salute her many listeners in the near future. Details are still being planned. Stay tuned for further information.

WHQR Public Radio, broadcasting from Wilmington, serves southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina with HQR News at 91.3fm and Classical HQR at 96.7fm. WHQR offers news, music, entertainment and interaction to expand knowledge, encourage artistic appreciation, engage our community and promote civil discourse.

Interviews with JemilaEricson, the Chair of the Board of Directors and Station Manager are available upon request.