CNN Worldwide president Jim Walton sent the following memo to staff today about Beverly Broadman, who joined CNN even before the network went on the air:

To: CNN Staff

From: Jim Walton

=======================================

Our colleague and friend Beverly Broadman died this past evening. This is sad news for those of us who knew her and were privileged to work alongside her. Bev was a CNN Original, which means something special around here. She was one of that storied group on the job from Day One, in her case an employee even before CNN actually went on the air. She came to us after 10 years at CBS News with experience we needed, leaned on, learned from and were lucky to have. She went on to hold numerous editorial posts in the newsroom, most recently on the news planning desk.

There is no way I can capture the importance of her contributions over 28 years, so I'll say simply this: Bev was a journalist, proud of our profession and proud to be part of CNN. We're better because of her.

> More from an emailer: "I knew Bev for 21 years both of us being CNN Originals. She was someone everyone loved and could count on."