Residents in the Jacksonville area were stunned Monday morning as news spread that State Representative Lea Fite had died.

Fite, 54, died at his home Monday morning at 7:30 after apparently suffering a heart attack.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Iron City Baptist Church The Fite family will receive friends Wednesday at Gray Brown Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m.

Fite was first elected to the State House of Representatives in 2002 after serving on the Calhoun County Commission. And although he was a politician, Fite was also known as one of the state's top grocery store owners.

"We are losing a good man," said County Commissioner James "Pappy" Dunn. "He always appeared to be a man of good vision, a man of wonderful personality, and you couldn't expect a better person to run a business like he was doing.

"I think Lea would want to be remembered first as a good citizen, secondly as a man who participated in city and county affairs that meant growth and development in our community."

Eli Henderson also served on the County Commission with Fite.

"I knew Lea for a long, long time. He was always helping people in our community though his store out there in Wellborn. He was always a giving person," said Henderson.

Henderson said he convinced Fite to run for County Commissioner.

"He always tried to help people who couldn't help themselves and help the poor," Henderson said. "So, I thought he would make an excellent county commissioner, and he did.

"He was always good at helping people reach their goals, particularly in our Wellborn community and throughout the county. He was always there for me. I never called him when he wasn't available to help."

Another county commissioner — Rudy Abbott — was saddened by the loss of his friend.

"I lost a great friend and our community lost a person who really loved this community and did everything he could to help it," Abbott said. "I could never remember asking him to help on any project where he didn't help. The last thing he did was helping to pave Kitty Stone's parking lot. People didn't know that, but he was always stepping up and doing things for our children."

Calhoun County coroner Pat Brown said Fite probably suffered a myocardial infarction, also know as a heart attack. However, an autopsy will be performed.

Fite was co-owner of the Food Outlet grocery chain with stores in Calhoun and St. Clair counties.

Fite was very active in the community by joining clubs and organizations like the Exchange Club and Kiwanis Club.

"He was generous beyond belief in the support of our service projects, especially the annual Pancake Breakfast," said Bob Ford, treasurer of the Kiwanis Club.

In Montgomery, Fite, who was a Democrat, was well respected by his colleagues.

"We were on different parties. We might not vote together and have different opinions on things, but we were still best friends," said Representative Randy Wood. "I think one of the things that he did that he was most proud of was when he passed the legislation requiring insurance companies to fund screening for breast cancer. I think that really tickled him to know that he could do something to make life better for other individuals."

Local politicians also respected him.

"Lea was always very interested in helping Jacksonville and was always good to follow though in what we needed help with," said Jacksonville Mayor Johnny Smith. "Lea was always happy, pleasant to be around, and no doubt will be missed. He was a tremendous help to this entire area, but particularly the city of Jacksonville.

"I think his biggest achievement, as far as Jacksonville City Government is concern, is his help in obtaining funds for the fire department," said the mayor. "We now routinely have a line item in JSU's budget that is designated for Jacksonville Fire Department's services to the university, and Lea was very instrumental in helping us obtain that and keeping that in the budget every year."

Fite is survived by his wife, Judy, and four children: Laurie, Wes, Trae, and Jerrod.

The Piedmont Journal's Patrick Swafford contributed to story.