Celeste Wilson, a weekend news anchor in Mississippi, has died suddenly at the age of 42 following a heart attack, leaving colleagues and viewers in mourning.
According to Fox News, Wilson had recently joined the Jackson-based station 16 WAPT as a weekend anchor but passed away unexpectedly after only a short period with the team.
Station anchors shared the emotional news on air this week. According to WAPT’s Troy Johnson, the news team was informed of Wilson’s passing and felt compelled to share the somber announcement with their audience. Co-anchor Megan West confirmed that Wilson had died of a heart attack.
West offered heartfelt remarks about her colleague, describing the station's sorrow over Wilson's passing. She noted that, though Wilson had not been at WAPT long, her professionalism and warmth had already made a significant impression on colleagues. West spoke of Wilson’s dedication to journalism and the early positive impact she made in the newsroom.
Wilson began her career in Monroe, Louisiana, where she worked as a broadcaster for a local CBS affiliate. A native of Louisiana, she also spent time reporting and anchoring at various other stations, including PBS affiliates, gaining experience and shaping her identity as a journalist.
New chapter in Mississippi ends in tragedy
Before moving to Mississippi, Wilson became a recognizable figure at her former station in Louisiana. One of her last roles there included being featured on a highway billboard, a tribute to her connection with the community and presence in the region. Despite moving on from that position, her contributions had made a lasting impression.
Wilson had only recently joined 16 WAPT in Jackson, Mississippi, stepping into the role of weekend anchor. While she was still new to the area and station, she had expressed enthusiasm about her position and the chance to tell stories from around the state. Her anchor profile on the station’s website stated she was excited to explore Jackson and connect with its communities.
According to her official biography, Wilson’s passion for journalism was long-standing. She focused her career on storytelling rooted in community, faith, and connection. Her colleagues remarked that this dedication could be seen from the start of her time at WAPT, making the suddenness of her death even more difficult for those who had only just begun working with her.
Background in journalism and education highlighted
Wilson’s educational background supported her ambition in the field of journalism. She earned her undergraduate degree from Northwestern State University and later completed a master’s degree at Arizona State University. Her academic credentials, combined with her professional experience, gave her the tools to succeed in competitive media markets.
Earlier this year, Wilson was in New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl Breakfast, an event blending sports and faith-driven community dialogue. Her professional and personal lives often overlapped in shared values centered around family, purpose, and service. This philosophy appeared repeatedly in her public and professional statements.
Her station biography noted her strong ties to spirituality, her family, and local communities. It described her as someone who brought these values into her daily work, connecting them to her on-air presence and news coverage. Wilson’s colleagues at WAPT emphasized how apparent this was even in the brief time she spent with the team.
Colleagues and the community express grief
Her death struck a chord among WAPT staff and the viewing public. In a statement released by the station, WAPT described its team as “heartbroken” by the loss. The statement extended thoughts and condolences to her family and friends, emphasizing the sudden nature of her passing and the impact it had made.
Wilson’s passing was also acknowledged by the “Today” show, which listed her age as 42. The national recognition underscored the depth of her professional contributions and how her sudden death resonated beyond her local station.
Though she had only just begun a new phase in her career at WAPT, Wilson's legacy is already evident in the memories she left with colleagues, former coworkers, and communities she had served during her years on air.
A brief tenure, but lasting impression
For many, Wilson’s journey in Mississippi was just starting, and her new role at WAPT had promised a fresh beginning. Her enthusiasm for embracing the stories of Jackson and learning about local life was evident to those around her. Her death, occurring so early in this new chapter, has created a sense of loss not only for those she worked with but also for viewers beginning to welcome her into their homes each weekend.
Though her time at 16 WAPT was brief, Wilson had a career that touched several communities and newsrooms across the South. Her colleagues across stations and states viewed her as a grounded professional who carried a genuine passion for her work. She was remembered as someone who brought dedication to any platform she served.
Celeste Wilson's story serves as a reminder of the vital role local journalists play in connecting communities, often blending their own lives into the narratives they help to share. Her sudden passing has left a void in Mississippi’s journalism community and beyond.
