In a heartbreaking blow to the New Orleans media community and to viewers/listeners alike, both radio personality C.J. Morgan and Fox 8 Anchor Nancy Parker have passed away.
Mr. Morgan, who had previously suffered from strokes and a heart attack, died at the age of 69 on August 15th. He had been in hospice care due to his health problems, with friends and family establishing a GoFundMe page to help offset the costs of his care. It is now accepting support for funeral expenses.
With more than 40 years of radio experience, C.J. Morgan had the number one morning commute show in New Orleans, on Q-93, along with co-host Monica Pierre, who issued the following statement on Facebook:
“It is an indescribable loss. C. J. and I hosted the morning show on WQUE-FM in New Orleans for 15 years. We had instant chemistry and a million laughs on the air. C. J. showed up each morning, an hour before the show, ready and eager to use his gifts and talents on the air. He made people laugh and think.”
While some were bracing with regards to the news of Morgan’s health, nobody expected the tragedy of Nancy Parker’s passing. On Friday, August 17th, her plane crashed in New Orleans East at Jourdan and Morrison Roads. She was covering a story on the Lakefront Airport at the time. Pilot Franklin Augustus also perished.
Fox 8 General Manager Tim Ingram released the following statement:
“Today we lost a wonderful journalist and remarkable friend, the New Orleans television community lost a true treasure, but beyond that, her family lost a wife, a mother and daughter. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Nancy was a part of the FOX 8 family for the last 23 years, she put her heart and soul into her work, covering thousands of stories and touching countless lives. She made a difference in the lives of those she reported on. She will be sorely missed, and her absence creates a void that cannot be filled.”
An investigation into the crash is being handled by the FAA and NTSB.
We at Big Easy Magazine express our greatest and most sincere condolences to the families and friends of C.J. Morgan and Nancy Parker, both of whom will be missed so much.
Bill Arceneaux has been an independent writer and film critic in the New Orleans area since 2011, working with outlets like Film Threat, DIG Baton Rouge, Crosstown Conversations, and Occupy. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and is Rotten Tomatoes approved. Follow him on Twitter: @billreviews
