Intelligent, humorous, gentle and dedicated are just some of the words that Jeffery Sellers’ Recorder colleagues think of when they remember him.
Sellers, who died mid-May this year, left a lasting contribution to The Indianapolis Recorder. He retired from the newspaper in 2021 after 32 years.
“I often say I love the Recorder,” Sellers said in 2021, “but what I really mean is I love the people at the Recorder.”
Recorder President and CEO Robert Shegog remembers Sellers enduring commitment to the organization and the community.
“For over three decades, Jeffery Sellers was the steady heartbeat of the Indianapolis Recorder,” Shegog said. “His commitment to excellence, his infectious laughter and his deep love for our mission helped shape the culture of our newsroom. Jeffery was more than a colleague — he was family. He mentored generations of journalists, reminded us of the importance of compassion in storytelling and always showed up with grace, no matter the challenge. His presence left an indelible mark on us all, and his legacy will continue to guide the work we do every single day.”
Barato Britt, CEO of Edna Martin Christian Center, knew Sellers for about 30 years and worked with him for several years during his time at the Recorder.
“The commitment speaks for itself. Three plus decades show you how invested he was and how valued he was.”
~ Barato Britt
“The commitment speaks for itself,” Britt said. “Three plus decades shows you how invested he was and how valued he was.”
While at the Recorder, Sellers worked closely with John Hurst in the art department. Together they oversaw the graphic design and production, but they did much more, Britt said.
“We couldn’t have done it without them,” Britt said. “Not just their design layout experience. Because they were there so long, they both had such an understanding for the outside community and the history of the paper itself. Really having that essence, their contribution was making sure the paper visually honored all that as well.”
Sellers not only cared for the news stories the Recorder shared, but also the tales only an insider would know, according to Production Manager Jeana Ouattara.
“What I appreciated most were his stories — not the ones you’d find in some documentary about the Recorder, but the real ones,” Ouattara said. “The behind-the-scenes stories about the people who made this place what it is, in all their unfiltered glory. He knew it all and shared it in a way that made you feel like you were part of that legacy.”
Sellers had a wealth of knowledge about many subjects, Ouattara recalled. He knew obscure facts about almost anything and he often knew the answers to Jeopardy questions which the staff watched together on late nights in the office.
Former Recorder Editor and President Shannon Williams worked with Sellers for nearly 20 years. He was already on staff when she joined the Recorder team fresh out of college.
“He was a fixture there throughout my entire tenure,” Williams said, who remembers Sellers’ incredible intelligence, dry humor and wide-ranging musical taste.
Sellers used to work at a record store, and he brought his musical knowledge with him to the Recorder office.
“Music was the glue in the art department,” Ouattara said. “Jeff was the DJ and one moment we were vibing to Frank Zappa, then switching to 2Pac, then Fela Kuti, Jean-Luc Ponty, and always — always — ending with some Funkadelic, because that was John Hurst’s favorite.”
For years, Sellers worked alongside Hurst in the production department designing the newspaper. John Hurst died in 2022; he worked at the Recorder from 1986 until 2019. Hurst’s daughter, Charity Hurst, spent many days in the office with her father and Sellers.
Charity Hurst remembers Sellers as always being helpful, even helping to fix her computer when she came home on break from college. John Hurst, Sellers and Marty Goens created a feeling of family in the office.
“All of the young people in the atmosphere were all their children,” Charity Hurst said. “They all looked out for us.”
What Charity Hurst remembers most was Sellers’ gentle spirit, never really saying a lot but allowing his actions to speak for him.
“The care that he showed for the success of the paper and sharing our stories and him being an ally and an advocate, that was demonstrative,” Charity Hurst said.
John Hurst and Sellers worked hard, but they did take breaks for important things like soap operas.
“Dad and Jeffery would take a lunch break when the ‘Young and the Restless’ came on because they had to keep up with what was going on with Victor Newman,” Charity Hurst said, remembering that their work would slow down for about an hour each day to catch up with the latest in the fictional Genoa City, Wisconsin.
“Jeffery Sellers exemplified what it means to lead with heart…”
~ Robert Shegog
For Shegog, Sellers was an influential leader who will always be a part of the Recorder family.
“Jeffery Sellers exemplified what it means to lead with heart,” Shegog said. “In his 32 years at the Recorder, he brought light, humor and wisdom to every corner of the organization. He believed deeply in the power of Black media and dedicated his life to uplifting our stories with dignity and pride. Even in retirement, Jeffery remained a trusted voice and source of encouragement for many of us. His legacy isn’t just in the stories he helped publish — it’s in the lives he touched, the community he loved, and the standard of excellence he leaves behind.”
Williams said you knew how special you were to Sellers based on his interactions with you.
“He wasn’t overly affectionate … but you knew that he cared for you based off of the time he invested in you,” Williams sai.
And his family was always a source of pride.
“One thing that would always make him a bit emotional were his children and his wife,” Williams said. “He was so proud of the girls and Raphael and his wife. He loved his family unit.”
Sellers is survived by his wife, Tysha-Hardy Sellers, whom he met at the Recorder, and their three children, Raphael Sellers-Bibbs, Gabrielle and Anna Sellers.
The Celebration of Life Memorial Service will take place on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at North United Methodist Church 3808 N. Meridian St. The viewing will begin at 10 a.m. and the memorial will begin at 11 a.m., with a repast following the services.
Contact Editor-in-Chief Camike Jones at camikej@indyrecorder.com.
Camike Jones is the Editor-in-Chief of the Indianapolis Recorder. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Jones has a lifelong commitment to advocacy and telling stories that represent the community.
