State senator passes away; COVID-19 blamed

State Sen. Ben Chafin Jr. passed away Jan. 1 from complication of COVID-19, according to a press release.

Chafin, of Lebanon, was elected to the Senate in 2014. He had previously served in the House of Delegates.

The Senate district includes Norton; the Wise County precincts of Appalachia, Big Stone Gap, Dorchester, East Pound, Guest River, St. Paul and West Pound; Dickenson, Buchanan, Russell, Tazewell, Bland and Pulaski counties; Radford; and parts of Smyth and Montgomery counties.

Chafin, 60, led a law firm in Lebanon and was a cattle farmer.

He is survived by his wife, three adult children, his mother and his sister.

The family will not hold a formal burial service and request that in lieu of flowers and other acts of kindness to please make food bank donations in Chafin’s memory to the Elk Garden School Community Ministry at 52 Hayters Gap Road, Rosedale, Va., 24280.