District 2 Supervisor Charles Edward Culpepper died on Tuesday at his residence. He was 59 years old.

Culpepper had been battling pancreatic cancer.

Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday at White’s Funeral Home here.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Culpepper was a life-long resident of Pearl River County. He was born on Aug. 7, 1950, to the late Ocon and Eddie Lewis-Culpepper.

“We are, of course, deeply touched by Charles’ death,” said board president and supervisor Anthony Hales. “He was a good man, a good supervisor and dedicated to serving the people of Pearl River County and their needs. He had a wealth of knowledge about county government and how it works. Our condolences go out to his family at this trying time.”

Culpepper lived in the Fords Creek Community. He was one year and 10 months into his first term as supervisor.

Culpepper worked for the county 19 years before running for supervisor. When he ran, he was the assistant county road manager. He said he would run after former supervisor Danny Wise announced he would not seek re-election to the District 2 post.

He beat his opponent, Joseph “Josey” Russell Tynes, a Democrat, by a two-to-one margin in the November 2007 election. He was sworn in with three new supervisors in January 2008. Hales was the only member of the new board that won re-election.

During the election, Culpepper told residents of District 2, “I would like to…bring pride and unity to our county.” He said he would not vote for any tax increases. He ran on the Republican ticket.

Said county administrator Adrian Lumpkin, “I worked with Charles for many years, and this is certainly a tragedy. We will miss him. I know his family will covet our prayers and concern right now. It is difficult to handle that we have lost him. It was a pleasure to have worked with him.”

Culpepper was a member of Ford’s Creek Baptist Church. Brother Bob Lee will officiate at the funeral on Friday and burial will be in the Ford’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce Keaton Culpepper; one son, Keith Culpepper and his wife Sandra, both of Poplarville; a daugher, Michelle Welborn and her husband Reggie of Laurel; a brother, Frank Culpepper of Louisiana; three sisters, Mildred Samson of Picayune, Gertrude Brooks of Pearl River, La., and Jeanette Trent of Arkansas; and five grandchildren, Karley Culpepper, Logan Culpepper, Jacob Culpepper, Connor Welborn and Lana Welborn.

Lumpkin said supervisors are required by law to make an interim appointment to fill Culpepper’s District 2 seat until an election is held next November to fill the remainder of his term.

Supervisors’ next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 7.