Changes

'''Joseph Burgess Cornelius, Sr.''', known as '''Joe Cornelius, Sr.''' (September 9, 1942 – September 1, 2024), was an [[African-American]] [[business]]man and [[community organizer]] in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], [[Louisiana]], who is a former interim [[mayor]] of his city, located in Webster Parish in the northwestern portion of the state. He was the second black person in nearly a quarter century to succeed directly from the Minden City Council to the mayor's position after an unexpected vacancy developed.

'''Joseph Burgess Cornelius, Sr.''', known as '''Joe Cornelius, Sr.''' (September 9, 1942 – September 1, 2024), was an [[African-American]] [[business]]man and [[community organizer]] in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], [[Louisiana]], who is a former interim [[mayor]] of his city, located in Webster Parish in the northwestern portion of the state. He was the second black person in nearly a quarter century to succeed directly from the Minden City Council to the mayor's position after an unexpected vacancy developed.

On the morning of September 1, 2024, Minden police discovered the bodies of former Mayor Cornelius and his daughter, Keisha Miles, in a house on Austin Street. A juvenile has confessed to the gunshot murders. In eight days, Cornelius would have observed his 83rd birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press-herald.com/former-minden-mayor-daughter-shot-and-killed-juvenile-suspect-in-custody/|title=Former Minden mayor, daughter shot and killed; juvenile suspect in custody|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=September 1, 2024|accessdate=September 3, 2024}}</ref>

On the morning of September 1, 2024, Minden police discovered the bodies of former Mayor Cornelius and his daughter, Keisha Miles, in a house on Austin Street. A juvenile has confessed to the gunshot murders. In eight days, Cornelius would have observed his 83rd birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press-herald.com/former-minden-mayor-daughter-shot-and-killed-juvenile-suspect-in-custody/|title=Former Minden mayor, daughter shot and killed; juvenile suspect in custody|publisher=''[[Minden Press-Herald]]''|date=September 1, 2024|accessdate=September 3, 2024}}</ref>

==Background==

==Background==