Longtime Houston media personality and founder of Houston Restaurants Week, Cleverley Stone, 68, known as the "Diva of Dining," has died after battling stage-4 uterine cancer her TV home FOX 26 KRIV is reporting.
"Close to impossible to believe that this bright light is now shining down on us from Heaven," KRIV anchor Melissa Wilson wrote on Facebook. "Cleverley Stone was one of my first friends when I moved to Houston 20 years ago & it was so special when we became FOX FAM 12 years ago. She fought bravely against uterine cancer and urges everyone to never ignore any symptoms. She helped raise millions of dollars for Houston's hungry and had the most beautiful, giving heart. We will miss you forever, Clev."
Stone, was a mainstay of the FOX 26 KRIV morning show with her lively Houston restaurant and food segments for 12 years.
She also hosted a restaurant/food show on 650 KIKK. In late March, Stone announced she was stepping away from her 650 AM show due to her cancer battle and the COVID-19 pandemic.
She got her start in radio on a food related show in 2003 with former 101 KLOL morning host, Mark Stevens, called "The Stevens & Cleverley Show" on BizRadio 1320 AM KXYZ.
Media success aside, her biggest contribution will be as founder of Houston Restaurant Week which Marcy de Luna of the Houston Chronicle is reporting raised more than $16.6 million, affording the distribution of more than 44 million meals to those Houstonians in need.
Stone's entrance into the Houston media started at the Houston Post where she rose to be the newspaper's wedding section editor. Before that she had worked at Foley's as the corporate bridal director.
She once told me she remembers the day on April 18, 1995 when the Houston Post was bought by the Chronicle. Working in her office, she looked up at the TV and saw her office window being shown live from the outside as other media showed up to cover the event.
FOX 26's story on Stone's passing says her final wish was that Houston Restaurant Weeks continue with the next edition happening August 1st, 2020.
