Colleagues from a local Alabama news station recently bid an emotional goodbye to former sports reporter and educator Christina Chambers. She was discovered deceased Tuesday morning alongside her husband, Johnny Rimes, in what appears to be a tragic murder-suicide incident. Their 3-year-old son was found nearby, thankfully unharmed.
On Tuesday night, Birmingham’s Fox affiliate WBRC 6 aired a touching tribute to Chambers, celebrating her dedicated work ethic and her warm, friendly nature.
“Christina Chambers had an incredible knack for making you feel like an immediate friend,” reporter Gillian Brooks noted.
Brooks expressed disbelief that they were speaking about such a vibrant personality in the past tense, while also highlighting how deeply Chambers had impacted everyone at WBRC.
Chambers was a full-time member of WBRC from 2015 until 2021 before transitioning to teaching. She continued her association with WBRC as a freelance sideline reporter during the 2025 football season.
Being the sole woman on WBRC’s sports team, she, as Brooks observed, “fit in perfectly.”
Her colleagues, including Rick Carle, J.J. Pruitt, and producer Brian Pope, shared memories of their time with her during a broadcast.
“She made the sideline better, she made this station better, and she made everyone in the newsroom better,” Carle remarked.
Pope noted, “The best testament to her character is evident from everyone she worked with; she was genuinely loved.”
Pruitt, who had the chance to see Chambers just a week before a significant soccer event, expressed gratitude for being able to hug her and share his love one last time, urging viewers to reflect on her passion for her work, describing how she gave everything—180 percent.
Miles College also shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, commending Chambers’ unwavering enthusiasm for sports journalism.
Chambers demonstrated the same commitment in the classroom, establishing Thompson High School’s broadcast journalism program as one of the state’s most esteemed. She was honored as the 2024 Alabama Scholastic Press Association Advisor of the Year, leading her students to various accolades, including an Alex House Journalism Sustainability Award and a SkillsUSA state championship.
Chambers earned her journalism degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she also competed in Division 1 track.
While authorities suspect that the circumstances surrounding Chambers and her husband point to suicide, the investigation remains ongoing.
