Downtown New Bern is mourning the loss of another beloved figure in the community.
Richard Blythe, a former New Bern fire chief and an employee of the Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, New Bern, died on Saturday. Posts confirming his passing were made on the Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola Facebook along with the West of New Bern Fire Department Facebook page.
Blythe's death comes just a few weeks after the death of Greg Smith, owner of Mitchell Hardware.
Blythe served as fire chief for several years but many people knew him as a friendly face they saw at the downtown Pepsi museum and store.