Early September 16, 19-year-old John Paul Memory II, a devoted Carrollton VFD member passed away while participating in a vehicle extrication demo in Franklin, VA at a local community celebration event.
He complained of not feeling right and then collapsed. He was immediately treated by Franklin FD members who witnessed him collapse. He went into arrest but could not be brought back. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
"I cannot express in words", Chief Joel Acree quietly and emotionally said, "what the outpouring of support has meant to us." "Not just our local community has come forward, but people from across the state and even the county. Citizens and our fellow firefighter brothers and sisters, departments from all over. It's amazing and uplifting. The law enforcement community is right behind us, supporting us, helping everyway they can. We are all a brotherhood-Fire and EMS along with Law Enforcement, and it's times like this that we are all brought closer together."
The Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department was chartered in January 1966. Prior to 1966, the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department and the Nansmond County Fire Department answered calls for help in the Carrollton area. Local citizens and the Carrollton Ruritans got together to organize the fire department.
Firefighter Memory is the dept's second LODD. In 1969, Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department's original Fire Chief, Claude Taylor, died while battling a structure fire on Jan 5. While combating the fire, Chief Taylor suffered a massive heart attack and died on the scene at the age of 62. He was the first firefighter in Isle of Wight County to pay the extreme price in the line of duty.
Visitation for Memory will be on Tuesday, September 19, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Colonial Funeral Home at 1515 S Church St, Smithfield. Funeral Service on Wednesday, September 20 at 1:00 pm at Colonial Funeral Home at 1515 S Church, Smithfield. This will be a full fire department funeral service with honors. Interment will be at St. Luke's Cemetery in Carrollton.
To contact the dept:
Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department
15020 Carrolltton Blvd.
PO Box 77
Carrollton, VA 23314-0077
Phone (757) 238-2474
Fax (757) 238-8169
Memorial Information
A memorial scholarship fund has been established in Memory's name. Donations may be sent to: The JP Memory Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 77, Carrollton, VA 23314.
