GOLDSBORO -- Wayne County Sheriff Carey Winders died unexpectedly Friday morning of an apparent heart attack. Emergency workers rushed Winders to Wayne Memorial Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. He was 57.

Bill Johnston, at NCN Affiliate WGBR in Goldsboro, says Winders served as Wayne County Sheriff for two decades, "Sheriff Winders has been the sheriff of Wayne County now for 20 years. In fact, he ran for sheriff in 1994 and he was the first Republican sheriff in the history of Wayne County."

Winders began his career in law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the Goldsboro Police Department in 1984.

Maj. Fane Greenfield will perform the duties of sheriff until someone is appointed by the county commissioners to fulfill Winders' term.