State Senator Ben Chafin dies from COVID-19 complications; Gov. Northam orders state flag to fly at half-staff
Ben Chafin Senate website
and last updated 2021-01-01 21:20:27-05
RUSSELL COUNTY, Va. - State Sen. Ben Chafin (R-Lebanon) has died from complications from COVID-19.
The senatorâs office confirmed the passing of Senator Chafin Friday night. The family of Senator Chafin thank the VCU Medical Center in Richmond for its vigorous care and heartfelt support during his two weeks of medical services there, said his office in a statement.
He was 60 years old.
At Chafin s request, the family will not hold a formal burial service and request that in lieu of flowers and other acts of kindness to please make food bank donations in Benâs memory to the Elk Garden School Community Ministry at 52 Hayters Gap Road
Chafin, a Republican who represented a rural district in Southwest Virginia, was 60 years old.
Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam and the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus, who confirmed Chafin s death, immediately issued words of praise for the senator, who was elected to the state s House of Delegates in 2013 before joining the Senate in 2014.
Chafin, an attorney, had been hospitalized with the coronavirus for roughly two weeks before his death. While several Virginia state legislators have contracted the highly infectious disease, he is the first Virginia lawmaker to pass away from complications related to the coronavirus, according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch. Southwest Virginia has lost a strong advocate and we have all lost a good man, Northam expressed in a written statement. I knew Ben as a lawmaker, an attorney, a banker, and a farmer raising beef cattle in Moccasin Valley, working the land just as generations of his family had done before him.
Updated: January 02, 2021 08:40 AM Created: January 02, 2021 08:37 AM
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin has died after contracting the coronavirus, Senate Republicans said Friday.
Chafin represented southwest Virginia and was from Russell County. A Republican, he was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2013 and then moved to the state Senate in 2014. He was 60.
Lawmakers from around the state mourned Chafin s death late Friday. I knew Ben as a lawmaker, an attorney, a banker, and a farmer raising beef cattle in Moccasin Valley, working the land just as generations of his family had done before him, Gov. Ralph Northam said. He loved the outdoors, and he loved serving people even more.
Virginia state senator dies after catching coronavirus
Published: January 2, 2021 10:28 AM EST
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Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin has died after contracting the coronavirus, Senate Republicans said Friday.
Chafin represented southwest Virginia and was from Russell County. A Republican, he was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2013 and then moved to the state Senate in 2014. He was 60.
Lawmakers from around the state mourned Chafin’s death late Friday.
“I knew Ben as a lawmaker, an attorney, a banker, and a farmer raising beef cattle in Moccasin Valley, working the land just as generations of his family had done before him,” Gov. Ralph Northam said. “He loved the outdoors, and he loved serving people even more.”
State Sen. Ben Chafin, R-Russell, died Friday from complications related to COVID-19, according to his legislative office.
Gov. Ralph Northam and the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus confirmed Chafin died Friday night. He represented a swath of far Southwest Virginia, including part of the New River Valley. He was 60.
âWith the passing of Senator Ben Chafin, Southwest Virginia has lost a strong advocate â and we have all lost a good man,â Northam said in a statement.
Northam has ordered that the Virginia state flag be lowered in Chafinâs honor and remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of his interment.