Statement from Congresswoman Joyce Beatty on the Passing of Ann B. Walker

October 6, 2025 Press Release COLUMBUS, OH – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) issued the following statement on the passing of Ann B. Walker: Today, I honor the life and legacy of my dear friend, Ann B. Walker, a trailblazing Columbus journalist, radio host, editor, and columnist. During her decades-long career in journalism, Ann became the first female and African American journalist to cover Columbus City Hall and the State of Ohio along with being the first woman to work in Columbus broadcast management, paving the way for Black female journalists across the Buckeye state. Ann bravely gave a voice to the Black community in Columbus, interviewing Martin Luther King Jr., conducting bold reporting on timely issues throughout Columbus, and humanizing the African American community. She spoke truth to power, in every way possible, even in the face of potential consequences. May she rest in power, and may her legacy live on through our own, everyday activism. ### Issues : Local Issues