Longtime Mobile news anchor Mel Showers has died

MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — Longtime Mobile news anchor Mel Showers has died.

Showers worked at WKRG for a total of 50 years,serving as its main anchor from 1980 until his retirement in 2019.

He was later inducted into the Alabama Broadcasting Hall Of Fame, and was named Journalist of Distinction by the National Association of Black Journalists.

He was a Mobile native graduating from Central High School and the University of South Alabama.

He also served in military intelligence in the U.S. Air Force.

Showers was also a trailblazer in becoming one of the first black anchors along the Gulf Coast.

Mel Showers was 78 years old.

Mel Showers' visitation and funeral service will be held Friday Nov. 1 at Truvine Missionary Baptist Church in Mobile from 2 -7 p.m.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday Nov. 2. His body will lie in state from 8-10:30 a.m. at Saenger Theatre in Mobile before the 11 a.m. service, with the burial to follow.