Former reporter, activist, politician Haithcock dies at 55

LIMA — Antelle Haithcock, a longtime Lima media presence who once ran for Allen County commissioner and spent her life trying to better the greater Lima community, died Thursday. She was 55.

The Rev. B. LaMont Monford said he learned of Haithcock’s death Thursday afternoon.

Haithcock had spent time both with WLIO-TV and The Lima News, where she worked as a reporter and later as a columnist.

It was her “Gospel Sounds” show on WLIO that stands out for Monford.

“When she was on the Gospel Sounds I was probably 14 or 15 and Antelle invited me to sing. That’s been almost 30 years,” he said. “We’ve known each other throughout the years and done many projects together. She coordinated events we did for our school.”

In 2004, Haithcock ran as an independent candidate for Allen County commissioner, focusing part of her campaign on keeping more homegrown young talent in area. She ultimately lost to Republican Sam Bassitt.

Haithcock continued her community work with the Bradfield Community Center and Walter Potts. She spent the last five years helping organize the Community Enrichment Dinner.

“She has always had a hand in what we try to do from a community perspective to make it better for everybody,” Jerome O’Neil said.

It was that drive to help everyone that made her so valuable to Lima, O’Neil said.

“The community has lost a local compass,” he said. “She was vocal as a community activist, for political awareness and spiritually. She could tap into all of those without compromising her beliefs.”

Haithcock had suffered from severe asthma for years, but it wasn’t clear if that played a role in her death.