Columbia, S.C. —  The South Carolina Democratic Party shared in a Facebook post stating that the former state Senator Kay Patterson has died, on Friday.

Kay Patterson was born in 1931 in Darlington County. He served in the military and got his teaching degree through the GI Bill at Allen University.

Senator Patterson dedicated over three decades to public service, representing Richland County in both the South Carolina House of Representatives and the State Senate.

“His unwavering commitment to education, civil rights, and the well-being of all South Carolinians has left an indelible mark on our state,” said the South Carolina Democratic Party.

The statement did not state Patterson’s cause of death, he was 93 years old.