Update: Funeral services have been set for Saturday with visitation on Friday.

Tallulah Mayor Paxton Branch died Saturday morning, according to information from the city.

Branch was hospitalized in Jackson, Mississippi, at the time of his death following heart surgery earlier this week.

The City of Tallulah Facebook page posted at 10:39 a.m. Saturday that a procession carrying Branch's body is expected to pass City Hall around 11:15 a.m. and asks the public to meet near City Hall. The procession will travel north on U.S. 65 through Tallulah to Lake Providence.

State Sen. Francis Thompson got the news Saturday morning.

"It saddens me. He was such a good person, very smart and able," Thompson said. "We're going to miss him. Our community and this region is very active in the mayoral organization, and we're saddened by this unexpected death."

He said that the last time he saw Branch, it looked like he'd lost weight but not energy.

State Rep. Charles R. "Bubba" Chaney said he was shocked by the news because Branch seemed so healthy. He said he sends all condolences to the mayor's family.

Chaney said Branch was a good man and a good administrator. He said Tallulah and all of northeastern Louisiana will feel the loss.

"He loved Tallulah and always had great expectations about what could be done and what he wanted to do. He was a visionary," Thompson said.

It's always controversial, Thompson said, when a leader doesn't have everything they need, but Branch worked tirelessly to serve.

"We're going to miss him," Thompson said.

Outpourings of support for Branch's family flowed on social media Saturday morning, but not all comments were positive. In August, a recall petition, was filed against Branch.

In the Tallulah Let's Talk Facebook group, Toriano Wells suggested that Branch's son be named the interim mayor.

Branch's predecessor, Eddie Beckwith Jr., also died in office in 2014. Less than a year was left on his term when his son, Michael Beckwith, was named interim mayor.

Branch started his second term on July 1, so there are almost four years left on his term. State law requires that a special election will be held to fill the remainder of the term, but an interim will need to be named until the election.