State Sen. Ben Chafin Jr. died Friday after contracting the coronavirus, his office announced in a statement.
"State senator Augustus Denton (Ben) Chafin Jr., a native son of Russell County located in Southwest Virginia, passed away on January 1, 2021 from COVID-19 complications," the news release said.
Chafin, 60, was treated in Richmond at the VCU Medical Center for two weeks before his death.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ordered the state flag to be immediately lowered over the Capitol in Richmond.
"With the passing of Senator Ben Chafin, Southwest Virginia has lost a strong advocate – and we have all lost a good man," Northam said in a statement. "This is is sad news to begin a new year with the loss of a kind and gracious man. May we all recommit to taking extra steps to care for one another."
Chafin was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2013 before being elected to the state Senate the following year.
"He served to ensure that his region and community, and the people he loved, would never be forgotten," his fellow state Senate Republicans said in a statement.
Days before Chafin’s death, Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, R-La., also died after contracting the virus. LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor G.E. Ghali said Letlow, 41, died from a heart attack following a procedure related to the infection.
Source link
