Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL) on Tuesday issued a directive to all state agencies ordering that flags in certain locations be lowered to half-staff.

The directive covers flags “on the grounds of the Alabama State Capitol Complex in Montgomery and in Alabama House District 78.”

This is being done “to honor the memory and longstanding service” of former longtime State Rep. Alvin Holmes (D-Montgomery), who passed away over the weekend.

Holmes served in the legislature for 44 years — from 1974 until 2018. He was the longest serving member of the House of Representatives in Alabama history. An alumnus and former faculty member of Alabama State University, Holmes was a Montgomery native.

“As the longest serving representative in our state’s history, it is only fitting that we pay homage to his decades of dedicated service,” Ivey wrote on Tuesday. “Anyone that had the privilege of working with or hearing Rep. Holmes address the legislature, knows that he was passionate about his work and cared deeply about improving our state, specifically in matters regarding civil rights. His unique approach to conveying the importance of causes he supported garnered much respect from his colleagues and is something the people of our state will not soon forget.”

“I offer my sincere condolences and prayers to his family, friends and constituents of his beloved community. The flags should be flown at half-staff on the day of Rep. Holmes’ interment on Sunday, November 29, 2020 until sunset,” she concluded.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn