Veteran journalist and editor Linda Lockhart leaves a proud legacy

The name Linda Lockhart may not be a familiar one beyond the journalism community. But she deserves to be remembered alongside others who maintained a standard and served the field to the point where Black journalism and Black excellence became synonymous in St. Louis.

The nature of her work was in the often unsung, typically anonymous yet critical element of print (and later digital) journalism – copy editing. Her keen eye helped others in the field keep their best foot forward. Lockhart died on Sunday, May 4.

Lockhart was so committed to her craft that she left copy editing instructions in an obituary that was released upon her death. 

“A stickler for straight-forward writing and AP style, she did not pass away or transition,” the obit read. “She died on May 4, 2025, of complications associated with cancer.”  Lockhart was 72.

In her 45-year career journey that included work as a reporter, editor, editorial writer and other positions, Lockhart was as devoted to training up future generations of Black journalists as she was to the AP style guidelines. This was evident through her service as a founding member of the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists (GSLABJ) – now known as NABJ-STL. 

Her commitment was reinforced each year for decades as an instructor for the Minority Journalism Workshop, which expanded the knowledge of the field for hundreds of high school students in the St. Louis area.

“This is a profound loss not only for those of us who worked alongside Linda, but also for our entire community,” said Latonya Yarbro, 2025-2026 NABJ-STL President. “Ever since the founding of the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists, Linda has been a pivotal part of the chapter’s success.”

She held many offices with GSLABJ and was a long-time member of the National Association of Black Journalists, where she served as secretary in 1977-78. She also served on the board of the St. Louis Press Club. 

Lockhart was bestowed with a GSLABJ Living Legend Award in 2014 and in 2024 was inducted into the St. Louis Media History Foundation Hall of Fame in the Print category. 

Before she was a legend within her field, she was the eldest daughter of the late Cornelious and Laura Lockhart.

Born in St. Louis on August 29, 1952, Lockhart was baptized and confirmed at St. Philip’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Louis and was active in Lutheran congregations throughout her life. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA, in Kirkwood, where she served in many positions, and had served as a member of the Synod Council of the Central States Synod, ELCA.

Lockhart attended Lutheran schools from kindergarten through high school.  In 1970, she became the first African American student to graduate from Lutheran High School South in Affton. She received a full scholarship from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and attended the University of Missouri, Columbia, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1974. In 1981 she completed training through the Editing Program of the Maynard Institute. 

She began her professional career at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, before moving on to work at the Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Journal, the St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press, the Wisconsin State Journal and The Capital Times, both in Madison, Wisconsin.

“She came through those doors with her sleeves rolled up and ready to work,” said her former St. Louis Post-Dispatch colleague and fellow NABJ member Fred Sweets. “Linda made it clear from the beginning that she was up for the demands of what the profession required of her, to the utmost.”

Karen Robinson, who worked with Lockhart in Milwaukee and later worked for The St. Louis American called Lockhart “a walking encyclopedia.”

“She was fiercely devoted to her family, and to the profession of journalism in almost equal measure.”

Lockhart also worked at the St. Louis Beacon, an online-only news organization, and at St. Louis Public Radio, an affiliate of National Public Radio. 

“The thing that Linda epitomizes for me is that she had very high standards for herself and for the people around her, and she was very forthright in expressing her insights and opinions,” Margaret Freivogel, former editor of the St. Louis Beacon and St. Louis Public Radio, told St. Louis Public Radio.

“But also doing it in a way that preserved goodwill in relationships over many years and over agreements and disagreements.”

Lockhart retired in 2019.

In 2020, she returned to the newspaper business as interim managing editor of The St. Louis American. “She did not hesitate to answer the call,” Sweets said.

She introduced herself to readers with a heartfelt commentary. “I promise to do my best,” Lockhart said. 

After three months in that interim position, she re-retired in 2021. 

“We are very grateful that Linda shared her skills and experience with us during a time of transition,” said Donald M. Suggs, publisher and executive editor of The St. Louis American. 

It was through The American that Lockhart met Steve Korris, her husband of 43 years, while they were both on an assignment.

“At the time, Steve was working at The American, where he was an ace reporter under the much beloved editor Bennie G. Rogers,” Lockhart said in her commentary. The couple left St. Louis for Milwaukee, where they were married. “I still have in my wedding scrapbook the announcement that appeared in ‘The American,’” Lockhart said. “Under the headline, ‘Two Former St. Louis Reporters Marry.’”

In addition to Korris, Lockhart is survived by her children, Rachel (Jermal) Seward and Paul Lockhart-Korris (Amanda K. Johnson); her grandchildren Avery Augusta Seward and Jermal Leon Seward III; her sisters, Cornelia Levels, Marsha Reis and Antoinette Collins, and many dear relatives and friends. 

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 327 Woods Mill Rd, Manchester, MO 63011.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Trinity Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.