RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue says she'll remember the invaluable counsel and friendship of the late state Rep. William Wainwright.
Perdue ordered Wednesday all North Carolina state flags be flown at half-staff in memory of Wainwright, who died Tuesday at age 64. Both Wainwright and Perdue came from Craven County and served in the Legislature together. Wainwright later rose to the post of House speaker pro tempore and was considered a close ally of Perdue.
Wainwright was a presiding elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion church. The governor said in a statement that Wainwright "served the Lord and the people of North Carolina with courage, with humility and with love."
Flags will remain at half-staff until his interment. Funeral arrangements hadn't been released late Wednesday.
