PLYMOUTH — Mary Ruth Wayt, longtime publisher of the Roanoke Beacon and a fixture in small-town journalism, died Friday, March 13, following a brief illness. She was 67.
Her passing comes at a pivotal moment for the newspaper she helped lead for more than two decades — and may mark its final chapter.
In a statement, her husband, Mark Wayt, said the Roanoke Beacon will continue publishing through the end of March but could close for good if no buyer comes forward.
“The Roanoke Beacon is going to be published through the end of the month of March. After that time, if not sold, it will close,” the husband said. “We are not going to take renewals, and we will try to figure out where to go from here. I’m sorry about this. I know Mary would understand my decision and hope the community will support the decision.”
For more than 20 years, Wayt served as publisher of the Roanoke Beacon, following a 14-year tenure at the Brown County Democrat in Indiana. Over the course of her career, she worked as an editor, general manager and publisher — roles that placed her at the center of local storytelling and civic life.