The Tennessee Association of Broadcasters is sad to announce the passing of Maxine Humphreys

Maxine Humphreys of Greeneville, Tennessee, passed away Tuesday, November 9, 2021.  She retired from Radio Greeneville WGRV-WIKQ-WSMG in 2014, after a distinguished 61-year career on the air delivering local news to the citizens of Greene County.  Maxine began reporting local news on WGRV on May 18, 1953, and quickly accumulated a loyal and large audience.  Prior to her employment, the position had experienced some rapid turnover, prompting then General Manager Paul O. Metcalfe to ask Maxine if she intended to stay in that position.  Maxine often recounted that story and her assurance to Metcalfe that she would, indeed, hold the position for a long time.

Maxine was honored by the General Assembly of the state of Tennessee with a proclamation recognizing her 50th anniversary on the air in 2003.  In 2016 she was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame.  During her time on the radio, Maxine was the subject of dozens of radio and television interviews, and magazine and newspaper articles about her life’s work.  Her program received the highest ratings, and it was often said that doctors would not see patients from 12:30 to 1:00 so they could tune in with the rest of the community.  Farmers came in from the field, and children were admonished to be quiet while Maxine was on.  Local diners downtown would hush the crowd and turn up the radio to hear the news of the community.  At one time, over 40% of all radio listeners in Greene County tuned in daily for her local news at 12:30.  Beginning in 2002, viewers on the local cable channel 18 were able to watch Maxine through the in-studio camera.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Maxine’s career on the air is that she had the same time slot and sponsor for her entire 61 years. Since 1953, Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home was, and continues to be, the exclusive sponsor of 12:30 News on WGRV.

For six decades, Maxine was the narrator in the lives of Greene Countians.  She shared with us each other’s births, life accomplishments, graduations, marriages, raising families, and even their deaths.  She amassed over 17,000 newscasts over that time.

Maxine delivered her final newscast June 17, 2014.  She passed away last evening surrounded by her loved ones at age 97.

Doughty Stevens Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements.