DEMOPOLIS &045; Supporter of community economic development in the Black Belt James Mock died yesterday morning following a massive heart attack.

Mock suffered the heart attack at his home and was transported to Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital where he later died in the emergency room. Mock was survived by his wife, Maria, and seven children.

Mock was the director of the University of West Alabama’s Regional Center for Community and Economic Development since the program began in 2003. He was recently named the president of the Demopolis Canebrake Players, a community-acting troupe.

Demopolis Mayor Cecil Williamson said she counted him as a friend. She said the two first meet through his work on the Black Belt Mayor’s Commission, of which Williamson was a member.

Mock received his bachelor’s in psychology and his master’s in economic development from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was working towards his doctorate in international development at the time of his death.

Mrs. Mock said that Mock’s dedication to the tenets of his faith was one of his highest qualities.

Visitation will be held today from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Kidd-Robbins Funeral Home.

The funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 7 at Kidd-Robbins Funeral Home and interment will be in Memorial Gardens in Demopolis.