Georgia state Sen. Greg Kirk dead at 56

ATLANTA - Georgia state Sen. Greg Kirk has died after a months-long battle with bile duct cancer. He was 56 years old.

Kirk, who represented Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Lee, Tift, Turner, Worth and parts of Sumter and Wilcox counties in the 13th District, was diagnosed with the rare cancer earlier this year. He had been fighting the difficult battle against the disease for months. In November, the Republican senator posted on his Facebook that he was at Emory getting targeted drugs to attempt to kill multiple tumors.

In a statement, Gov. Brian Kemp described Kirk as a "man of faith who served his family, community, and state with passion and integrity."

"At the State Capitol, Senator Kirk was an effective lawmaker who lead efforts to spur job creation, strengthen rural Georgia, protect life, and safeguard our freedom," Kemp said.

Before becoming a member of the state Senate in 2014, Kirk was a businessman, founding three companies in south Georgia. He also served as the senior pastor of Rehoboth Baptist Church in Americus, Georgia for seven years.

State Sen. Greg Kirk has died after a months-long fight against bile duct cancer. (Georgia Senate)

Kirk is survived by his wife, Rosalyn, seven children, and five grandchildren.

A visitation will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 27 with a service to follow at Central Baptist Church.