Former longtime Madison County Sheriff Blake Dorning died Tuesday, the sheriff’s office announced on social media.

Dorning, 61, died after a battle with cancer, the sheriff’s office said. He served four terms as sheriff and did not seek reelection in 2018.

“Sheriff Blake Dorning was a man of integrity, faith, honor, courage, and duty,” the sheriff’s office said in its Facebook post. “But most of all, and at his very core, Blake was a man of compassion. He loved his family, his friends, and his community. He loved the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the brave men and women who kept our communities safe. Today, as our hearts are breaking, we can take solace in knowing that with Blake’s final journey now complete, his weary days of pain have passed, and his timeless days of peace have just begun.”

Dorning joined the sheriff’s office at the age of 21 in 1983. He worked as a corrections officer before working in patrol. Dorning was promoted to sergeant in 1989, lieutenant in 1994 and captain in 2001.

Known throughout north Alabama as an expert on the barbeque grill, Dorning was elected sheriff in 2002. Kevin Turner was elected to succeed Dorning in 2018.

“Sheriff Dorning will be remembered for his selfless service, devotion, and dedication to his family, fellow law enforcement, and community during his career, and will forever be a role model and example of professionalism in our agency,” Turner said in the Facebook post. “May God rest his soul and peace be with his family during this most difficult time.”