On Saturday, May 10, 2025, the following names will be added to the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the annual ceremony in downtown Raleigh. See below for narratives and notes, about each member and how they died.
- John Alexander Bowen – Fayetteville – 4/16/22
- Nathan Clark Burgess – Raleigh – 11/12/23
- Tony Ray Garrison – Garren Creek – 9/27/24
- Thomas Minter Lee – Kill Devil Hills – 2/19/24
- Jeffrey Marc Lyons – Asheville – 11/16/22
- Anthony “Tony” Bryant Mauldin – Fuquay-Varina – 11/26/22
- Joshua Nelson McLamb – Salemburg – 6/7/22
- Ronnie Buren Metcalf – Lexington – 3/29/24
- Jason Eugene Moody – Maggie Valley – 10/26/23
- Thomas Ray Patterson – Louisburg – 9/12/24
- Troy Carter Thompson – Seven Springs – 10/4/23
- Darrell Wayne Woodard – Savannah – 12/29/20
- Brandon Scott Carver Yaeger – Bethany – 5/31/22
Narrative Notes
John Alexander Bowen, 35
Battalion Chief, Fayetteville
Died 4/16/22
Cancer – Died after a colon cancer diagnosis in 2021.
Age 35
Funeral was April 19, 2022, at Sardis Presbyterian Church. Burial followed at the church cemetery.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page
Nathan Clark Burgess, 49
Captain, Raleigh
11/12/23
Cancer – Died 18 months after diagnosis of throat cancer.
A memorial service was held on November 19 at the Johnston Community College auditorium in Smithfield.
On February 1, 2024, the North Carolina Industrial Commission recognized his passing as a line-of-duty death.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page
Tony Ray Garrison, 51
Firefighter, Garren Creek (Buncombe)
9/27/24
Collapse/Landslide – Died during response to Hurricane Helene, during rescue operations after a landslide, when a second landslide occurred. He was also a battalion chief with Fairview FD.
Funeral service was held on October 23, 2024, at Trinity of Fairview, 646 Concord Road in Fletcher. Burial followed at Chestnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Fairview.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page
Thomas Minter Lee, 82
Assistant Fire Chief, Kill Devil Hills
2/19/24
Cardiac – Found unresponsive at home after participating in department fitness training the same day.
A memorial service was held on February 24, 2024, at Nags Head Church, 105 West Sound Side Road.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page
Jeffrey Marc Lyons, 61
Safety and Training Officer, Asheville
11/16/22
Cancer – Died of neuroendocrine cancer, diagnosed in 2022.
A memorial service was held on November 21, 2022, at Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Avenue, Weaverville. Burial was conducted at a later date.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page
Anthony “Tony” Bryant Mauldin, 60
Fire Chief, Fuquay-Varina (Wake Co.)
11/26/22
Cancer
Funeral was held December 1, 2022, at Fuquay-Varina Baptist Church, 301 North Woodrow Street. Burial followed at Wake Chapel Memorial Gardens, 905 Wake Chapel Road Fuquay-Varina.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page
Joshua Nelson McLamb, 53
Salemburg (Sampson Co.)
6/7/22
Cancer – Died of colon rectal cancer.
Funeral was June 11, 2022 at Clinton Family Worship Center, 103 Raiford Street, Clinton. Burial followed at Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery, 991 Corinth Church Road, Salemburg.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Ronnie Buren Metcalf, 53
Captain, Lexington
3/29/24
Burns – Died of three days later, after being rescued at a house fire, after he was reported missing inside the structure.
Funeral was April 6, 2024, at Mt. Zion Wesleyan Church-222, Mt. Zion Church Road, Thomasville. It was followed by a private burial.
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Read NFFF memorial page
Jason Eugene Moody, 57
Captain, Maggie Valley
10/26/23
Cause TBD.
Memorial service was held on November 4, 2023, at Calvary Road Baptist Church. 2701 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.
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Thomas Ray Patterson, 74
Captain, Louisburg
9/12/24
Cardiac
Found unresponsive at home after responding to two emergency calls earlier that afternoon.
Memorial service was held September 15, 2024, at the Louisburg College Auditorium. The burial was private.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page
Troy Carter Thompson, 46
Firefighter, Seven Springs (Wayne Co.)
10/4/23
Cardiac – Died at the hospital after he was stricken while working at the scene of a vehicle accident earlier that evening.
Memorial service was held October 8, 2023, at the Seven Springs fire station.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Read NFFF memorial page
Darrell Wayne Woodard, 66
Fire Chief, Savannah (Jackson Co.)
12/29/20
COVID – Died 26 days after exposure at a fire call.
Funeral was January 3, 2021, at Victory Baptist Church. Burial followed at Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
Read NCFFF memorial page
Brandon Scott Carver Yaeger, 32
Firefighter/Driver, Bethany (Rockingham Co.)
5/31/22
Cardiac – Found deceased in bunkroom at fire station.
Funeral was June 7, 2022, at the Rockingham County High School Auditorium. Burial followed at Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Read NCFFF memorial page.