North Carolina state Rep. Joe John, a longtime Raleigh lawmaker and former judge, died on Wednesday. John had only just resigned his District 40 House seat in the General Assembly days earlier, as he announced Sunday that his throat cancer was terminal and he was focused on spending time with his family. He was 85.

State Rep. Joe John, a Wake County Democrat who served the state for decades in a variety of judicial, administrative and legislative roles, has died. John, who was 85, had announced his resignation from his House seat this week,

Rep. Joe John, who served as a North Carolina state lawmaker after years in the judiciary, died Wednesday, his family said. He was 85. John, a Democrat from Wake County, resigned days prior from the House.

Joe John, a Wake County Democrat elected to a fifth term in November, revealed a throat cancer diagnosis in December. Over the weekend John announced his resignation.

John, who was 85, had announced his resignation from his House seat this week, saying that he needed to focus on his health and spend time with his family.

A former member of the North Carolina legislature died this week, just days after resigning from his position. Rep. Joe John died Tuesday, Jan. 22 after a battle with cancer, his family said. He announced in December that he had throat cancer,