Former state Sen. Arthur Ravenel Jr. suffered a mild stroke over the weekend but was talking with his daughter Sunday night from his hospital bed.

"He's sitting up eating supper right now," said his oldest daughter, Suzie Ravenel, who is a nurse.

She said her father was expected to be in the East Cooper Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant for two or three more days.

Arthur Ravenel, 78, for whom the new Cooper River bridge is named, experienced tingling in his extremities Friday night while alone at his country home in Francis Marion National Forest.

After taking a walk Saturday morning, he called his wife, who noticed that his speech was slurred. His wife called Suzie Ravenel, who called the family doctor. The doctor recommended that Arthur Ravenel check into a hospital, so he drove about 45 minutes south and admitted himself.

Tests determined that Ravenel had suffered a mild stroke.

Mount Pleasant Mayor Harry Hallman Jr. said Ravenel "was in pretty good shape," when he visited Ravenel in the hospital on Saturday.

"He's always jovial," Hallman said.

Ravenel was supposed to speak about the new bridge at the downtown library Saturday afternoon. He called Hallman from the hospital to ask if he could fill in.

The new Cooper River bridge was named for the former Republican senator after he spent many years raising money for the project. Ravenel helped establish the state Infrastructure Bank, which committed hundreds of millions of dollars toward construction of the bridge. The new bridge, which is scheduled to open to traffic July 16, has eight lanes for cars and trucks, and a separate lane for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Known as "Cousin Arthur" to his longtime supporters, Ravenel has six children.

He declined to speak with the media Sunday.

When asked if Ravenel would attend the bridge opening festivities, his daughter said there was no doubt.

"Absolutely," she said as she looked toward her father lying in bed.

"He just gave a thumbs-up."