ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis community is mourning the loss of popular and longtime radio personality Tammie Holland, who died this weekend from cancer at the age of 53.
5 On Your Side spoke with co-workers about her trailblazing career and what she did for Black women on the airwaves.
"She opened doors for a lot of people," Lady Re The Funny Lady said about her radio co-host Holland.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: St. Louis radio personality Tammie Holland dies at 53
An actress and comedian, Lady Re said Holland was an inspiration as one of the voices behind the first all-Black female radio show at FOXY 106.9.
"Tammie really played a big role," Lady Re said. "I'm not going to cry but she really played a big role in a lot of things that people don't even know about."
Holland used a light green mic at the Delmar Blvd radio station to co-host with Lady Re and Mz. Sinita during their radio show that runs at 6 a.m. on weekdays for four hours.
Holland was on-air just weeks before her passing Saturday morning. Talking about what they'll miss most, Mz. Sinita said, "She has this infectious laugh and everybody loves it."
"Just the sound of that voice and that laugh and then she would always bust out in some harmonic song or something on the microphone," Mz. Sinita said.
Battling stage IV colon cancer that spread to her lungs and eventually her brain, Holland died in hospice surrounded by her daughter, Meadow, family and friends.
She'll be remembered Monday on FOXY with a two-hour tribute to call in and share stories.
A clip of FOXY's tribute promo shared with 5 On Your Side uses an audio clip of Holland saying, "As I was fighting for my life, all I could think about was being remembered forever."
The FOXY tribute promo ended with, "Thank you, Tammie Holland, for a job well done."
Holland also worked as an overnight news anchor at 5 On Your Side in the '90s.
Her family is planning a funeral for Tuesday, July 23.