Two former longtime members of the Alabama House of Representatives died Monday after contracting COVID-19.
Former Rep. Richard Laird of Roanoke died at Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Ga., after battling the virus for more than a month. Laird, 81, served in the House from 1978 until 2014. The Randolph Leader reported Laird’s death.
Former Rep. Jack Page of Gadsden, 70, died in a Gadsden hospital on Monday. Page had been in poor health since surgery in June, The Gadsden Times reported. Page’s former wife, Rebecca Gray Page, told the Gadsden Times that Page had recently contracted the coronavirus. Page was elected to the House in 1993 and served until 2010.
The deaths of Laird and Page follow that of another former longtime legislator about two weeks ago.
Larry Dixon, a former state senator and representative from Montgomery, died of COVID-19 on Dec. 4. Dixon, 78, served in the Senate from 1983 to 2010.
According to updates posted on Facebook by Laird’s son, Joel Laird, Laird first showed symptoms of the virus on Nov. 7. Laird was admitted to Tanner Medical Center on Nov. 18.
“One of the last things Dad told me on the afternoon of November 18th was, ‘I wouldn’t wish this virus on anybody,’ “ Joel Laird wrote.
Laird later suffered a stroke caused by a blood clot from COVID-19, his son wrote on Facebook.
Some current Alabama lawmakers have become seriously ill from COVID-19 and recovered.
Sen. Randy Price of Opelika spent five weeks in East Alabama Medical Center after contracting the virus around the 4th of July.
Sen. Jim McClendon of Springville spent about 10 days in St. Vincent’s hospital in Birmingham after being diagnosed on Oct. 18.
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth had COVID-19 and recovered after experiencing mild symptoms.