Who was Belva Davis’ Husband, Children, and Family? A Look Into the Life of the Legendary Bay Area Journalist Who Died at 92

Belva Davis, the trailblazing Bay Area journalist and the first Black woman television news reporter on the West Coast, has died at the age of 92. Her death was confirmed by several outlets, including KRON4, KQED, and KTVU, where she spent decades of her career.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Belva Davis was born in Monroe, Louisiana, and raised in Oakland, California. She began her career in the late 1950s, writing for JET magazine, before moving into radio and television.

Her big break came in 1963 when she appeared on KTVU, covering an African American beauty pageant. By 1966, she joined KPIX San Francisco, becoming the first Black female TV journalist in the western United States.

Career Highlights

Davis covered many of the defining moments of American history, including:

• The Berkeley student protests

• The rise of the Black Panther Party

• The Jonestown massacre

• The assassinations of George Moscone and Harvey Milk

• The AIDS crisis

• The September 11 attacks

• The election of President Barack Obama

She spent more than 50 years reporting and hosted This Week in Northern California on KQED for nearly two decades.

Her accolades include seven Emmy Awards, induction into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame, and the California Museum Hall of Fame. In 2011, she published her memoir, Never in My Wildest Dreams: A Black Woman’s Life in Journalism, detailing her struggles and triumphs in breaking barriers.

Belva Davis’ Husband and Children

In her personal life, Belva Davis shared a devoted marriage with Bill Moore, a KTVU photographer whom she married in 1963. Their union lasted more than 60 years. Moore once described Davis as “the love of his life and the only girlfriend he ever had.”

Davis is survived by her two children, Steven and Darolyn, along with grandchildren who remember her not just as a journalist, but as a guiding force in their family.

Legacy and Tributes

Colleagues and leaders across the Bay Area mourned her passing. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee called her “a beacon” for Black women and people of color in journalism. Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and current Mayor London Breed hailed her as an “icon” whose influence will be felt for generations.

Her family emphasized that beyond her public image, her greatest gift was her ability to ask meaningful questions that inspired understanding and conversation.

A memorial service is expected to be announced soon.