Governor John Bel Edwards is mourning the loss of his mother.
In a Facebook post, Edwards announced the death of his mother Dora Jean. In that statement, Edwards paid tribute to her.
"She was the matriarch of our family and, along with my late father Frank, the reason why I am the person I am today," Edwards said. "She raised eight children, worked for many years as a Charity Hospital nurse, taught Cathechism, and made the best red beans and rice. My parents instilled in me from an early age the importance of faith, family, and public service. A devout Catholic, she taught us the values of Matthew 25 and that faith must be accomponied by works. Those lessons have been the basis for every decision I have made as governor."
According to our partners at NOLA.com, members of the Louisiana Legislature who are meeting in the Joing Legislative Committee today held a moment of silence in honor of Mrs. Edwards after House Speaker Clay Schexnayder announced her death to the assembled lawmakers.
Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Edwards have not been announced.