The sudden death of Simmesport Mayor James "Boo" Fontenot has stunned the small southeast Avoyelles Parish town, said Peter Guillot, the mayor pro tem, who resigned as alderman Tuesday to assume mayoral duties.
"People can't believe it," Guillot said. "It was all of a sudden. That quick and he was gone."
Fontenot died Monday at the age of 57 from an apparent heart attack.
Guillot said the news was especially shocking to him because he had recently spoken on the telephone with Fontenot concerning city business.
"He said he would talk to me some more in the afternoon and then -- bam -- he's gone," Guillot said.
