A Moss Point fire captain found dead in his home Sunday appeared to have died of natural causes, officials say.

Capt. George Tillman said Pascagoula police received a call about 2 p.m. Sunday after Charles Bernard, 58, was found lying on his bed in his Comanche Street home.

County Coroner Vicki Broadus said she believed Bernard died of natural causes. An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death.

Moss Point Fire Capt. Tom Posey said Bernard had worked up until a few days ago at the Central Fire Station.

“He had been suffering some medical problems, but we didn’t realize the extent,” said Posey. “It’s pretty much a shock to all of us. It hit all of us pretty hard.”

Posey said Bernard’s wife, Francis, died about four or five months ago, and a son-in-law lives in Pascagoula.

After joining the department 31 years ago, Bernard was a senior firefighter. He became captain two years after he joined the department.