Martha Mitchell Zoller, the longtime radio and television voice known across Georgia as the “Velvet Hammer,” died on June 22, 2026, at the age of 66.
She passed away in Gainesville, where she had spent decades building a reputation as one of the state’s most recognizable political commentators.
Zoller was born on August 23, 1959, in Columbus, Georgia, to Frank Arthur Mitchell and Juanita Roof Mitchell. Her father served in World War II and survived as a POW escapee, while her mother worked for Rich’s Department Store in Atlanta.
The youngest of four children, Zoller graduated from Columbia High School in DeKalb County before earning her journalism degree from the University of Georgia’s Grady School of Journalism in 1979.
Decades later, in 2021, she returned to her alma mater to complete a Master’s Degree in Political Science.
From Caller to Broadcaster
Before launching her on-air career, Zoller worked as a corporate buyer for Rich’s Department Store. Her path into broadcasting began almost by accident.
She was a frequent caller to WDUN AM 550 in Gainesville, and her passionate reactions to political news, including Hillary Clinton’s remark about not wanting to “stay home and bake cookies,” eventually led the station to bring her on as a co-host of its “Mid-Day” program in 1994.
That opportunity grew into a long and influential career. In 2008, she launched “The Martha Zoller Show,” which became a fixture of Georgia talk radio.
She also became a familiar face on television as a regular contributor to Fox 5 Atlanta’s “The Georgia Gang,” and she appeared frequently on national outlets, including Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC.
Colleagues and viewers came to know her nickname, the Velvet Hammer, a nod to her ability to challenge politicians firmly while keeping her trademark warmth and humor intact.
Family, Faith and Remembrance
Zoller is survived by her husband, Lin, and her four children, Chip, Mark, Ricky, and Suzanne. She also leaves behind her sister, Pam, three daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, a step-daughter, and six grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Linda, and her brother Frank.
Her family described her as a deeply devoted mother whose greatest strength was not her career but her capacity for love and loyalty toward family and friends alike.
She was also known for her lifelong passion for musical theater, often spending time with her children at Broadway shows or singing show tunes during car rides.
A memorial service celebrating her life was held on Monday, June 29, at 11 a.m. at Gainesville First United Methodist Church, with a reception immediately following. The service was also livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
Instead of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the American Lung Association or the American Heart Association.
Tributes have poured in from across Georgia’s political and media communities. Governor Brian Kemp and his family expressed sorrow over her passing, calling her a longtime fixture in Georgia politics.
Friends, colleagues, and viewers alike remembered her as a tough but compassionate voice who left a lasting mark on the state she covered for so many years.
