(Edgefield) June 26, 2003 - Strom Thurmond died Thursday around 9:45pm.  Strom Thurmond had been listed in "guarded condition" earlier Thursday night at the Edgefield County Hospital.

Strom Thurmond Junior confirmed his father died at the hospital that had been his home since retiring from the US Senate as its longest serving member in January.

Official Whitehouse Statement:

"The president expresses his condolences for the passing of Senator Thurmond. Strom served the people from South Carolina with distinction for decades. He earned the respect of Democrats and Republicans alike, and he will be missed."

Strom Thurmond Junior says Thurmond died with his family surrounding him and without pain. 

Shellhouse Funeral Home in Aiken says the funeral will begin 1:00pm Tuesday at First Baptist Church in downtown Columbia. Burial will be at Willowbrook Cemetery in Edgefield. WIS News 10 will have live coverage of an 11:00am news conference at which more information is expected.

Thurmond had lived in a private suite at the 40-bed Edgefield County Hospital since retiring in January 2003 after 48 years in the Senate.

In mid-May friends and family noted the former senator appeared weaker than usual. On May 22nd Thurmond's son, US Attorney Strom Thurmond Junior, said his 100-year-old father had a difficult week but was resting comfortably.

The Republican had in frail health in recent years. Former Senator Thurmond turned 100 on December 5th, 2002.

Strom Thurmond won his eighth term in 1996, allowing him to reach a goal of having served longer in the United States Senate than anyone else. When the day came, in late May of 1997, he went back home to Edgefield County, to celebrate; the place where it all began.

Thurmond has lived in a private suite at the 40-bed Edgefield County Hospital since retiring in January 2003 after 48 years in the Senate. South Carolina voters in November of 2002 elected Republican Lindsey Graham over Democrat Alex Sanders to succeed Thurmond in the US Senate.

Posted 10:39pm by Eva Pilgrim