Outpouring of praise, sympathy follows death of Freddie Armstead
Freddie Armstead’s death has evoked an outpouring of praise for the long-time Marengo County Commissioner.
Armstead, 76, suffered a fatal gunshot wound Wednesday evening. Demopolis Police Chief Rex Flowers said Armstead had returned home after deer hunting and eating dinner with family memmbers. He was getting his rifloes out of the backseat of his truck when one of the rifles accidentally discharged shooting him.
Flowers said the call came in about 9:30 p.m. Armstead was alert enough to explain to responding officers what happened. He was transported by ambulance to Whitfield Regional Hospital and was being treated when he succumbed to his injuries.
“I was fortunate enough to know Freddie just about all my life,” recalled Demopolis Mayor Woody Collins. The two of them disagreed on many issues, “but the one we were both in agreement about was regardless of the political question we were going to be friends.”
Collins said Armstead’s impact and influence throughout west Alabama “will be felt for generations and generations to come.”
He was “one of the most impactful people I’ve ever met in my life with respect to their work in their community and certainly in their work with a local hospital,” said Doug Brewer, CEO/Administrator of Whitfield Regional Hospital. “He was everything to this hospital.”
Because of Armstead’s importance to WRH, plans are being made to honor him throughout the month of March, Brewer said.
Armstead served as his mentor and gave guidance and support from the time he came to the hospital some four years ago, Brewer continued, but it wasn’t just to the hospital that Armstead focused his efforts. “He did that with everything in the community.”
“My heart goes out to his family and the people of Marengo County,” said Armstead’s fellow Commissioner Jason Windham. “His leadership and efforts will be greatly missed.”
The Marengo County Commission issued the following statement:
“Freddie Armstead, beloved and dedicated County Commissioner, District 1, Marengo County, passed away during the early hours of this morning, February 10, 2022. Commissioner Armstead faithfully served this county throughout his tenure and will be deeply missed. We ask that you please keep his family, friends and Marengo County in your prayers.”
Armstead served on the Commission for 35 years and had announced his candidacy for reelection. As of Thursday morning, it had not been decided whether to appoint someone to fill his seat in the interim.
Glen White Memorial Funeral Home in Uniontown is handling the services.