By Staff
Melissa Cason
Franklin County Times
RED BAY – A Red Bay man was found dead in the woods near the city Thursday night.
Franklin County Coroner Elzie Malone said Michael Whitehead, 51, of Red Bay, was found dead by family members Thursday evening when he failed to return home from a hunting trip.
"The death was of natural causes, possibly a heart attack or aneurysm," Malone said.
Malone said that the time of death was around 3 p.m. that afternoon and that he was certain the death was natural.
Malone arrived on the scene around 10:15 p.m.
While Whitehead's family mourns the loss of a loved one,, the City of Red Bay mourns the loss of a dear citizen and a beloved friend.
Red Bay Police Sgt. Scottie Belue said that Whitehead was "an all around good guy," and that the city and department will dearly miss him.
"He was the kind of guy to help you with whatever you needed," Belue said.
Belue said Whitehead was instrumental in the construction of the department's firing range, which is located on property donated by Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow.
Whitehead owns heavy equipment and volunteered his time and equipment in order to get the range ready for police training.
"He would come home after working and help us work on the range," Belue said. "He was the kind of guy you could depend on."
Belue added that the things that Whitehead did while on Earth will never be forgotten.