Gov. Tate Reeves honors Sen. Lindsey Graham as Mississippi flags fly at half-staff
Gov. Tate Reeves has ordered flags in Mississippi to be flown at half-staff through July 18 in honor of the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Graham, a 71-year-old Republican from South Carolina, died over the weekend from what his family said was a "brief and sudden illness." A preliminary report from a medical examiner in Washington, D.C., listed Graham's cause of death as an aortic dissection, which is when the wall of the main artery in the heart tears.
Graham served more than 30 years in Congress and had celebrated his birthday Thursday night. Members of Mississippi's congressional delegation issued their condolences for Graham's family.
"There are no words to describe Lindsey Graham, my friend of more than three decades. There are no words to describe his impact on the foreign and domestic policy of the United States. Lindsey served his beloved country in uniform and in the House and Senate. He stood solidly for freedom and strength and he fought for liberty across the globe. Lindsey Graham can be succeeded in office but he cannot be replaced," said Sen. Roger Wicker.
"I am deeply saddened and heartbroken by the passing of Senator Graham. America has lost a true leader, and I have lost a dear friend. I have never met anyone quite like Lindsey. He never failed to tell me how much it meant to him that I made chicken and dumplings for him after he had COVID during the shutdown. He was so appreciative that, from then on, he called me 'Lil Sister,'" said Sen. Cindy Hyde Smith. "Lindsey had such a brilliant mind. He was a tremendous leader on foreign affairs and personally knew so many foreign leaders. But without a doubt, his personality was the biggest part of who he was. I will always be grateful to have known this wonderful human being."
U.S. Reps. Michael Guest and Bennie Thompson also issued statements.
"Haley and I join the President and the people of South Carolina in mourning the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. Please join us in prayer for his family and friends," Guest said.
"I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Sen. Lindsey Graham. I pray that God covers and comforts the Graham family during this difficult time," Thompson said.