Alexis Scott retiring from ‘The Georgia Gang’ after 18 years

She's the second major departure from the show this year following the retirement of show creator and final original panelist  Dick Williams in the spring.

Media consultant and public relations expert Jeff Dickerson departed two years ago, replaced by Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson. Recently, the show gave Williams' conservative slot to Republican strategist Janelle King.

The show also added former Channel 2 Action News reporter Lori Geary last year and she eventually took over as host when Williams left.

With Scott's departure, the only long-time panelist left will be conservative and Scott's self-described "nemesis" Phil Kent.

In an interview Saturday, Scott said she has had two hip replacements and is about to embark her second knee replacement surgery.

“My mobility issues have caught up with me,” she said. “It was a great opportunity and a great ride but it was time to go on to the next thing.”

Scott wants to focus more energy on writing a memoir and working on a screenplay with her husband Brian McKissick

based on her father’s experiences during World War II.

“It’s hard to focus [on these other projects ] when you have to follow the news every day,” Scott said. “It was very demanding.”

Scott, a journalist for 45 years, said she joined the show in 2002 in part to promote the Atlanta Daily World and highlight black organizations and people that otherwise would get little notice. She said she never had any deep ambition to become a TV personality.

“She has done everything you can do in journalism,” said Williams, recalling her time as a reporter at the Atlanta Constitution. “She’s a liberal. In fact, she’s a socialist. But she does it so nicely. She can say outrageous things but they don’t penetrate because she’s so sweet!”

Williams, who is 75 and retired in part due to on-going health issues, also appreciated that she knew everyone in the African-American community. When his some of his colleagues would complain about her, he would remind them that 30 percent of Atlanta is black.

He provided a video honoring her that will air during her final “Georgia Gang.”

The show originated at WSB-TV in 1981 as “Sunday News Conference” as a reaction to the Atlanta missing and murdered children case that riveted the nation at the time. It lasted six years, then was revived in 1989 by Williams on WATL-TV and renamed “The Georgia Gang.” It moved to Fox 5 in 1996 and has survived another 23 years.

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“The Georgia Gang,” 8:30 a.m. Sundays, Fox 5