Former State Rep. Richard Laird (I-Roanoake) passed away on Monday at age 81 after a bout with the coronavirus, his family has confirmed.
Laird served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1978 until choosing not to seek reelection in 2014. Before election to the legislature, he served on the Roanoke City Council from 1972-1976. He was a Democrat until 2013, when he switched his affiliation to independent and began caucusing with House Republicans.
“I’m leaving the party because I think it left me a long time ago,” said Laird at the time.
Even after retiring from the legislature, Laird remained active in state politics in recent years, especially through his leadership within the Alabama Farmers Federation and his local Randolph County Farmers Federation.
In a Monday Facebook post, his son, former Circuit Judge Joel Laird, said, “The outpouring of prayers, support, and love for my dad, mom, family, and me has truly been overwhelming.”
The son has previously explained that his father began experiencing symptoms on November 7 and was diagnosed on November 9. Rep. Laird was reportedly admitted to Russell Medical Center on November 15; after the facility was able to increase his oxygen to an appropriate level, he was discharged the next day. However, by November 18, he had taken a turn for the worse and had to be admitted to Tanner Medical Center in Wedowee and, soon thereafter, the ICU at Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Georgia. He was subsequently put on a ventilator.
Judge Laird outlined the following about his father’s battle with COVID-19:
On the night of November 16th, after being released from Russell Medical Center in Alexander City, Alabama, my dad was feeling better. Referring to the coronavirus, he jokingly told me “I’m going to wear it out… or, it’s going to wear me out.” I was hopeful and had faith that he would wear IT out and he did fight like a champion. However, I am sad to say that complications from the coronavirus finally wore my dad out and took his life this afternoon at 4:31 Eastern Time, which seems fitting since highway 431 from I-20 to I-85 is named the Representative Richard J Laird Highway, after him.
Although the coronavirus ultimately wore my dad out, VICTORY is his, for he is walking the streets of Heaven now free from the pain of neuropathy in his legs and to suffer no more. I prayed that God would restore his body and make it like new. That is exactly what God has done by giving Dad his new Heavenly body.
My mother and I express our deepest gratitude to each and every one of the doctors, nurses, staff and entire medical team at Tanner Medical Center, both in Wedowee and Carrollton, for your care and compassion for my dad and our family. We know that y’all did everything possible for him and us. Y’all are very special people and deserve praise for what you do! Thank you!!!
One of the last things Dad told me on the afternoon of November 18th was “I wouldn’t wish this virus on anybody.” This virus is serious folks! If you aren’t concerned about it yourself, at least be concerned about your neighbors and loved ones and wear a mask, PROPERLY, socially distance yourself from others, and take the vaccine when it becomes available to you. It’s not going to hurt you or kill you to wear a mask, but you might just keep someone else from dying by wearing one and socially distancing. At least until everyone has been vaccinated and this pandemic is over, please think about others instead of just yourself.
He added that the responses to his previous social media updates regarding his dad’s situation “actually renewed my faith in mankind and reminded me of the value of family and friends and living and growing up in a small town where everyone knows and cares about everyone else.”
“The numerous responses have also reminded me that loving thy neighbor as thyself extends far and wide and isn’t just limited to the person next door, down the street, or across town,” Judge Laird wrote. “Deep down, people ARE good and do care and come together when there is a need. That’s because despite all of our differences, whether they be differences of opinion, philosophy, background, age, level of education, profession, station in life, political affiliation, religious beliefs or affiliation, race or ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, or any other difference that sets us apart, we ALL still have one thing in common.. that is the love that God embedded deep inside each one of us, a love for His creation and our fellow man that knows no boundary or border and penetrates any wall that can be erected to separate us from sharing that love. My family is blessed to know and experience that love and to have so many wonderful friends!”
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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