The City of Whiteville Celebrates the Life of Captain Ramsey Fleet
It was a somber evening full of good memories on August 25 as fellow firefighters from Whiteville and surrounding counties drove a last call procession honoring the life of Captain Ramsey Fleet who passed away at the age of 64 on Thursday, August 18, 2022. Many people from the community lined Main Street as the procession, which started at the TCAT-Whiteville parking lot, drove through Downtown Whiteville, continued past Fleet’s home, and finished at the Whiteville Fire Station.
Captain Fleet served as a Whiteville fire fighter for 28 years and worked for the City of Whiteville for 39 years. Captain Quintin Helmuth, who served with Fleet as a fire fighter for 15 years, described him as “a gentle, big hearted man”.
“Ramsey was a strong leader who didn’t like to be in the front of everything. He rather someone else be in the forefront and he would run the back. Ramsey wasn’t flashy or showy,” said Helmuth. “Ramsey was very active and helpful, and would do everything he could to get me what I needed; any supplies, drinking water through fires.”
Helmuth noted Fleet had been sick the last month before his death, but he still showed up as much as he could. He agreed Fleet’s death was going to impact the department. The procession was a way for the department to cope and also show their love for Ramsey the man.
“We drove by his family’s home and his wife (Loretta) and their immediate family were outside. I talked to her when we were setting this up and she couldn’t thank me enough for doing this. The fire department was a big part of Ramsey’s life. He was here with the city for many years and that was a big part of his life,” Helmut paused. “His death will leave a large hole here.”
When asked how they were getting through this time as a department, Helmut pointed to the other firefighters who remained gathered at the station after the procession.
“This . . . the camaraderie. With this many people from all over Hardeman County and Fayette county, they sent support,” said Helmuth. “As emergency workers, this is important, to touch base, have each other’s backs. We go on calls in Toone and Bolivar. We help them on calls, they help us on calls. The camaraderie of this is how were are getting through it.”
It was evident the procession not only helped with the grieving process for Fleet’s family, but also his fellow squad members.
“We will continue to grieve, but life has to go on,” said Helmuth. “When the next call comes out we have to go on, it will be hard. We will be looking around asking Ramsey to get something and he won’t be there, but someone else will have to step up and in for that.”
Captain Ramsey Fleet was again recognized on Saturday, August 27, 2022 at The 2nd Annual Main Street Festival with a balloon release. Fleet was laid to rest earlier that day in the church cemetery of Clover Garden CME Church, Whiteville.
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