Death of longtime mayor from COVID-19 stuns Alabama town The death of a longtime mayor has brought about a reckoning in the Alabama town where he spent his entire lifeCLANTON, Ala. -- It seemed like Billy Joe Driver, 84, was always around in this Alabama city after 36 years as mayor. Most weekdays you'd find Driver working at a first-floor conference table at Clanton City Hall, and many nights he'd eat at Green’s Small Town Diner with friends. Driver joined the volunteer fire department and was elected to Clanton City Council, where he spent 12 years, before running for mayor and winning on his first try in 1984. "It was the worst time of my life.”City Councilman Bobby Cook gathered city workers together and announced the death of his longtime friend with tears in his eyes. He's the interim mayor until a newly elected mayor, Jeff Mims, takes over in November.

Source: ABC News September 04, 2020 05:03 UTC