Former Governor Lester Maddox Dies at Age 87

Atlanta - The Governor's Office is sad to announce that former Georgia Governor Lester Maddox, 87, died this morning following many years of multiple degenerative diseases. He passed peacefully in his sleep at 1:59 a.m. at a local hospice facility.

Governor Maddox served as Georgia's 75th chief executive from 1967-1971. He also served as Lieutenant Governor from 1971-1975.

Governor Maddox is survived by four children -- Lester G. Maddox, Jr., Linda Densmore, Virginia Carnes, and Larry Maddox -- and 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. His death comes almost six years to the day after the passing of his beloved wife and Georgia's former First Lady, Virginia Maddox.

The Maddox family has requested that Governor Perdue's Office of Communications handle all media inquiries. Official announcements from the family-including funeral arrangements-will be released through The Governor's Office of Communications.

A brief biography of Governor Maddox is attached.