Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin Jr. has died, and according to a statement from his office, he passed after contracting COVID-19.
According to CNN, in a statement, the Republican senator’s family thanked the VCU Medical Center in Richmond for “its vigorous care and heartfelt support during his two weeks of medical services there.”
“State Senator Augustus Benton (Ben) Chafin, Jr., a native son of Russell County located in Southwest Virginia, passed away on January 1, 2021, from Covid-19 complications,” the statement read.
The 60-year-old cattle farmer and attorney had served in Virginia’s 38th District. He was elected to the state’s House of Delegates in 2013 and moved to the Senate a year later.
In honor of Chafin, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ordered the state flag to fly at half staff atop Virginia’s Capitol until the senator’s interment.
