Rural Health Group’s visionary leader and longtime Seaboard Mayor Melvin Broadnax passed away on Sunday.

“Melvin has been the soul of this organization since 1974 when Melvin and other community leaders decided that Northampton County needed health care,” Rural Health said on its website.  “He worked tirelessly with the NC Office of Rural Health politicians and local leaders to make his dream of medical care in Jackson a reality.”

According to the Rural Health website, “Melvin was not just our first and only board chairman for close to 40 years, he was the impetus behind the Group’s dedication to the underserved.  His compassion for others and his passion for equal access to superior quality health care have been the underpinnings of RHG and will continue to drive RHG.

“It is a great loss to our organization, the community, and each of us who knew him.  Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”

In honor of Dr. Broadnax, all Rural Health Group offices will observe one minute of silent reflection at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Seaboard.

A wake will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the J.W. Faison Memorial Chapel of Faison’s Funeral Home in Seaboard.