WILMINGTON — A familiar face on WWAY news died on Tuesday evening, the CBS and ABC-affiliated station announced.
Donna Gregory was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in April, which she shared with viewers on air. Gregory took a leave to undergo treatment; her family announced her passing Wednesday.
Gregory died on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 19. Her family was by her side throughout her medical journey. They announced on her official social media page she was surrounded by her four children in her final days and leaves behind siblings, two grandchildren and a son- and daughter-in-law.
Gregory had been part of the WWAY news team since 2019 after having worked in the broadcast industry elsewhere, including Raleigh’s WRAL and WCNC, as well as for NBC and MSNBC.
“We know her as ‘Mom,’” they wrote. “To her children, she was so much more than the accomplishments listed in her career. She was the heart of every room she entered, always making everyone feel welcome and at ease. She could create a meal out of anything she found in the fridge, turning ordinary moments into something special.”
Her family touted Gregory as a listener, cheerleader, and avid supporter of the arts, with a great sense of humor, and unwavering loyalty to those she loved and to her faith.
“Her final weeks, spent with us by her bedside, were filled with the same love and strength she shared her whole life — a beautiful testament to who she was and the legacy she leaves behind,” they wrote.
Coworkers have credited her smile as one that could light a room and her encouragement and support unmatchable.
“Donna was more than a confidant to me — she was a source of comfort and joy,” former WAAY anchor Randy Aldrige, who worked alongside Gregory, expressed. “We shared so much together: work, life’s journeys, love, loss, and most importantly, endless laughter. That laughter created a bond between us I will always treasure.”
Funeral arrangements are still being finalized.
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