Deborah Roberts Mourns 'Shattering Loss' in 'Devastating' New Post
Deborah Roberts is mourning a "devastating" personal loss this week.
The 20/20 co-anchor took to Instagram late in the evening on Tuesday, July 2 to share that her friend and industry colleague of over three decades, Beth Powers Lamm, had passed.
Roberts shared a small handful of photos of the two on her social media page, including a sweet throwback from Powers Lamm's wedding, where Roberts appeared to be a bridesmaid or the maid of honor, among others.
According to her former news station, Orlando's NBC affiliate WESH 2, the former reporter, known on-air as just Beth Powers, passed nearly a week ago following a battle with cancer. She was 63.
Though Powers had long since left the news industry, spending the latter part of her life as a realtor, she and Roberts remained good friends—"lifelong," even. Roberts called her "A confidant. A champion. A listener. A kind soul. An unending source of goodness" as she reflected on their 30+ years together, which started when they were both working in Orlando at "competing stations."
"But our competitive spirits gave way to a deep bond," she explained. "Our evening assignments, soon followed by shared glasses of wine;red for her;white for me."
Over the years, they experienced "roaring bouts of laughter, weekend spa visits, political debates, beautiful weddings, and a cherished, unwavering friendship" together, before "children, careers and life stole much of our time."
Even so, they picked up right where they left off every time they picked up the phone—"even after an embarrassing amount of time had gone by."
"Her light, ever so bright, has now gone out," Roberts continued, calling it "a shattering loss for those of us who loved her." She added, "The world has lost a beautiful soul. But heaven just gained one. Rest in peace Beth."
Roberts signed off by "sending love and prayers of comfort to" Jim, Powers' husband, and two kids: Helen and Danny. She is also survived by her grandchildren.
