Motown's Starr is Remembered
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About the same time the LA corner was doing an autopsy on Anchor Chris Burrous, many TV news people were gathering to say goodbye to WJBK Weather Anchor Jessica Starr.
They gathered at the Oak Pointe Church on Saturday to remember Starr, who took her own life just a couple of weeks before Christmas.
Her colleagues, Derek Kevra and Roop Raj shared their memories through tributes as well as her uncle and godfather Paul Digby.
"With Jess, it was all about her kids and thank God she was good at it because I asked her for a lot of advice," said Kevra, Fox 2 meteorologist. "... She was honest and she was real, but also kind and giving. Often playing the Fox 2 therapist as people would come in and out of the weather office to talk about their daily problems. They would leave feeling better because she would take the time to listen."
Raj said he thought of Starr as a sister and it was a privilege to be her friend.
"There has been a lot of reflection in the last three weeks, how did it end, when did it end and why didn't we have more time?" Raj said. "But instead of staying in that moment, I choose to give thanks for the eight years we had with Jessica Starr because she was an incredible gift to this community."
Raj relayed words from Starr's mother, Carol Starr, saying she was "blessed to be her mother."
"We miss her, I miss her. Her bright beautiful smile and funny laugh will live on forever in our hearts," she said. "She put sunshine in my life. I'm not a weather forecaster or meteorologist, I know the forecast today is dreary, dark and sad, but I know that when the sun comes back out again and you see it shining through the clouds, each and every one of us will look up and say we are glad we knew the warmth of Jessica."
Digby said the family is still in shock but will persevere through hope.
"Most of us are still on the why's and what if's. How did she get to this point? How did we all not see this coming? Did we miss the signs? This was so out of character for someone I've known for 35 years," he said. "How do we turn this page on darkness? I think it begins with hope."
H/T Detroit News
