Miami radio icon Jill Tracey remembered as ‘vibrant, unique and unforgettable’ at funeral
Jill Tracey’s homegoing ceremony was fit for the queen of South Florida radio.
Tracey’s silver casket was adorned with an array of pink and purple flowers, and sat against the backdrop of a colorful flower wall. As a video and photo montage played before the ceremony, purple lights illuminated the stage and Tracey’s casket.
As the ceremony began a man wearing a purple suit and a black top hat carrying a crown atop a bejeweled silver pillow slowly walked to Tracey’s casket and placed the crown on her head.
Throughout the ceremony, which took place Thursday night at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Miami Gardens, at least 150 mourners and another 200 who were watching the livestream on Youtube were treated to audioclips of Tracey’s voice from her hit talk show Hot Talk with Jill Tracey.
“We gather, not for a traditional service, but for something truly special, a celebration as vibrant, unique and unforgettable as our girl, Jill,” said Miami radio personality Cindy Doucet, more popularly known as Supa Cindy, who hosted the three-hour ceremony.
Tracey, who died suddenly on Nov. 1 at age 60, came to Miami from Detroit and grew to become one of South Florida’s most celebrated gossip columnists, radio personalities and socialites. During the late ‘90s Tracey’s life as a radio star began to rise on WEDR 99 Jamz. There wasn’t a club opening she didn’t attend, a celebrity who could sneak into town without her finding out or some dirt she couldn’t dig up.
“Jill was a woman who lit up every room she entered, whose presence was a song in itself, and whose life was a story worth telling through music, storytelling and heartfelt reflections,” Doucet continued fighting through tears. “We will honor Jill’s legacy, her love and her light, because her light was so bright. Together, let us crown Jill as the queen she will forever be in our hearts and in our minds.”
‘The good the bad and everything in between’
The South Florida radio titan who worked at WHQT HOT 105 FM on and off for more than 30 years was remembered as a loving, supportive coworker and invaluable friend with an infectious laugh. Marcus Folmar, Tracey’s brother, said Tracey’s vulnerability led her to connect with people so easily.
“Jill was unapologetic in the truth of who she was and the things she went through, the good, the bad, and everything in between,” he said. “That was her super power. Because of her willingness to share herself, I know she helped so many people feel seen and to feel a little less alone in the world.”
Longtime friend Jason Kanner spoke of Jill’s extravagance, love for fashion and the exciting experiences they had, including the time they sat front row at New York Fashion week. But he noted Tracey had health issues in the last two years of her life, including work stress.
“The joy and fulfillment that life on the radio brought her also kept her working more hours than she was compensated for, but not enough to provide her insurance coverage from her employer,” he said. “Witnessing some of her experiences at the hospital firsthand, I can say with total certainty that if she had proper insurance, we would most likely not be here today.”
Tracey’s family and friends clapped as Kanner acknowledged the challenges Tracey faced at work and how deeply hurt she was that she couldn’t sign off to her listeners one last time when she was laid off from HOT 105 in the summer. But her zeal, he said, led her to politics. Prior to her death, she was running for Hollywood’s District 2 commissioner seat to replace retiring commissioner Linda Anderson, the city’s first Black commissioner.
“I knew she would if she was given the opportunity, she would have been incredible,” he continued, adding he believed she would’ve fought against the “injustices that contributed to her diminished quality of life.”
“Someone else will have to fight that fight,” he said.
‘Purple Rain’
L. Wynette Murphy, a childhood friend of Tracey’s, recalled the many memories the two shared since they met in elementary school. The two would defend each other from bullies and forged a bond lasting a lifetime, including when they created their high school group Nasty Girlz, a girl group titled after the Vanity 6 song “Nasty Girl.”
“My friend, Jill Tracey, brought into my life so much friendship, loyalty, excitement, adventure and color,” Murphy said, fighting through tears. “She was more than a friend, she was my confidant and sounding board.”
Stephanie Anderson, who served as campaign manager when Tracey ran for office, noted that Tracey received more than 1,000 votes while the winning candidate received at least 2,000 votes, and believes she would’ve won had it not been for her untimely death.
“I admire Jill a great deal and there are not very many people in my life that I can count on in a sisterhood where your secrets are protected, where your hopes and dreams are fed and nurtured, where you’re supported and where you get to support the other person unconditionally,” Anderson said. “And I had that relationship with Jill and I’ll be forever grateful for it.”
During the ceremony, Tracey received several proclamations including one from Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s office and the cities of Hollywood, Miami, Miami Gardens, and Oakland Park.
A rousing rendition of the Prince classic “Purple Rain” had mourners on their feet to honor Tracey as they crowded around her casket. The ceremony also featured reflections from her castmates on Iyanla Vanzant’s daytime show “Starting Over,” her fellow National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) South Florida chapter members and fellow radio colleagues.
“She didn’t always tell you what you wanted to hear. She told you what you needed to know, whether you liked it or not,” NABJ-South Florida president Calvin Hughes said, as he recounted his friendship with Tracey.
“I’m still saddened but I’m glad about the legacy and the work that she did,” her former colleague at HOT 105 Rodney Baltimore said. “Her voice is still here.”
Jill Tracey’s funeral can be streamed in full on the Wright and Young Funeral Home YouTube page:
This story was originally published November 22, 2024 at 4:30 AM.
