Remembering Gezus Zaire, Ohio's Gifted Storyteller

Columnist Justice B. Hill reflects on the life and loss of a powerful voice silenced too soon.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:30am

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Justice B. Hill, a veteran journalist, pays tribute to Gezus Zaire, a gifted Ohio storyteller and writer who passed away at the age of 46. Zaire, born Maurice Laron Wilks, was a multifaceted artist who used his platform at the Call & Post newspaper to champion Black voices and the African diaspora through his sports writing, music, and filmmaking.

Why it matters

Zaire's death at a young age represents the loss of a unique and influential voice in Ohio's Black community. As a passionate chronicler of Black lives, Zaire's work helped keep the connection between African Americans and their ancestral roots alive. His unexpected passing leaves a void that will be difficult to fill.

The details

Justice B. Hill first met Zaire in the early 2000s when they both worked in the press box, with Zaire writing for the Call & Post, a weekly newspaper that provided opportunities for many Black journalists. Hill recognized Zaire's talents extended far beyond sports writing, describing him as a "younger version of the late Mansfield Frazier" who spoke with a powerful political and social conscience. After Zaire moved to Columbus to work for the Call & Post there, Hill worried about who would step up to fill the void he left behind in Cleveland. Two weeks ago, Hill learned of Zaire's death at the age of 46, though he did not go into the specifics of how or why Zaire passed away.

  • Justice B. Hill first met Gezus Zaire in the early 2000s.
  • Gezus Zaire moved to Columbus to work for the Call & Post newspaper there.
  • Justice B. Hill learned of Gezus Zaire's death two weeks ago.

The players

Gezus Zaire

A gifted Ohio storyteller and writer who passed away at the age of 46. Born Maurice Laron Wilks, Zaire was a multifaceted artist who used his platform at the Call & Post newspaper to champion Black voices and the African diaspora through his sports writing, music, and filmmaking.

Justice B. Hill

A veteran journalist who first met Gezus Zaire in the early 2000s when they both worked in the press box. Hill recognized Zaire's talents extended far beyond sports writing and described him as a powerful voice for the Black community in Ohio.

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What they’re saying

“I sensed straightaway he was more than a sportswriter. Even his choice of the name Gezus Zaire—he was born Maurice Laron Wilks, I later learned—reflected the complexity of the man.”

— Justice B. Hill, Columnist (cleveland.com)

“When I heard he was moving to Columbus, I thought, Who will step forward here to fill his void? No one has.”

— Justice B. Hill, Columnist (cleveland.com)

The takeaway

Gezus Zaire's unexpected passing at the age of 46 represents a significant loss for Ohio's Black community. As a gifted storyteller, writer, and artist, Zaire used his platform to amplify the voices and experiences of African Americans, helping to keep the connection to their ancestral roots alive. His death leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, underscoring the importance of nurturing and uplifting diverse creative voices in our communities.