Tallulah Mayor Eddie Beckwith Jr., whose quest for a third term as the Madison Parish city’s mayor, died Thursday, according to multiple published reports. Details of his death were unavailable.

Beckwith, 64, a funeral director, was first elected Tallulah’s mayor in 2006.

He was re-elected in 2010. He served 33 years in the U.S. Army and worked 21 years for the Louisiana Department of Social Services, according to his campaign website.

Mayor Pro Tem Tommy Watson said the city council will meet in the coming days to appoint an interim mayor until a new one is elected.

His death comes as officials in Tallulah began preparing for the April 5 municipal primary elections.

Madison Parish Clerk of Court Marion Hopkins said qualifying for mayor will reopen in Tallulah today, Monday and Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If no one qualifies, the election will go forward, but all early voting and absentee ballots cast for Beckwith will not be counted.

If someone qualifies during the three-day period, the mayoral election will be moved to May 3 with the runoff set for May 31, if needed. Elections for council and police chief will not be affected.

She said early voting and absentee voting will continue.

Beckwith had campaigned on securing more than $5 million in grants to repair city infrastructure, among other items listed on the campaign site.