Washington (CNN) Former President Barack Obama remembered the late Rep. Elijah Cummings on Thursday, saying the longtime Maryland Democrat "stood tallest and most resolute when our country needed him the most."

"Michelle and I are heartbroken over the passing of our friend, Elijah Cummings. As Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, he showed us all not only the importance of checks and balances within our democracy, but also the necessity of good people stewarding it," Obama said in a statement. "Steely yet compassionate, principled yet open to new perspectives, Chairman Cummings remained steadfast in his pursuit of truth, justice, and reconciliation. It's a tribute to his native Baltimore that one of its own brought such character, tact, and resolve into the halls of power every day."

Obama added that Cummings inspired Americans through his acts of civil service.

"And true to the giants of progress he followed into public service, Chairman Cummings stood tallest and most resolute when our country needed him the most. .. Our deepest sympathies and abiding love go to his wife, Maya, his three children, and all those whose lives he touched," Obama said.

Cummings died Thursday at 68 of "complications concerning longstanding health challenges," his office said. He was chair of the House Oversight Committee and a key figure leading investigations into President Donald Trump , as well as a leader among African Americans in Congress.