The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Homepage

Related Photos

  • Jefferson For The Daily Southerner

    D. Jefferson.jpg

  • Members of the Rocky Mount Fire Department fold a N.C. Association of Rescue and EMS flag during the funeral of Edgecombe County EMT Dwight Jefferson Wednesday at Pinetops/SouthEdgecombe Fire Department. For The Daily Southerner

    IMG_6604.JPG

  • Emergency personnel pays respect to Jefferson as his body is carried to a rescue vehicle to be transferred to the cemetery in Farmville. For The Daily Southerner

    IMG_6629.JPG
June 15, 2012

Final Call

Family, friends bid EMT Jefferson goodbye

THE DAILY SOUTHERNER Calvin Adkins

TARBORO — PINETOPS — "Attention all units. Attention all units. Final call for John Dwight Jefferson. You have answered your last call here with us and you have been reassigned to the Lord's Squad of heroes. Goodbye sir. You will be deeply missed."

In a ritual given to Emergency responders as a "final call," those words were somberly spoken over the radio by an Edgecombe County Sheriff's Department dispatcher during the closing of Jefferson's funeral Wednesday at the Pinetops/South Edgecombe Volunteer Fire Department.

Jefferson died Saturday reportedly of a massive heart attack shortly after responding to an emergency sick call and returning to the Edgecombe County Rescue building in Tarboro.

The 66-year-old Pinetops resident served more than 40 years with Edgecombe County rescue squads. His first stint began as one of the founders of the Pinetops Rescue Squad where he served until that unit was taken over by the Edgecombe County in 2008. The unit was housed in the  Pinetops/SouthEdgecombe Volunteer Fire Department.

Perhaps that was why it was befitting that Jefferson's funeral was held in the same facility.

One of the bays were turned into a makeshift sanctuary that was overfilled with family, friends and emergency fire and rescue personnel. A green and white flag that symbolizes N.C. Association of Rescue and EMS, was draped on Jefferson's wood-grained coffin. Less than three feet away laid his volunteer fire department gear. On the opposite side, Chris Salter, a firefighter from Morrisville, dressed in a Scottish kilt attire, played "Amazing Grace" on his bagpipe.

Jefferson was remembered as family man that enjoyed life and his duties as and emergency responder and a cornerstone of Pinetops Rescue Squad.

“Do you know what the amazing thing is, asked the Rev. James Avery who delivered Jefferson’s euglogy. “He was  was still working for EMS when he died. He was still going out cutting people out of wreck cars and all of those things that goes along with being an EMS. He was still doing it after 40 years."

Steve Burress, who was also one of the founders of Pinetops Rescue Squad

Citing Jefferson's inception date, Burress said his friend was the longest serving EMS in Edgecombe County.

“Dwight started May 25, 1972 until closed June 30 2008," Burress said. "He and I was the only two who were here when it started and was here when it finished. He and I and another gentleman ran the first call and Dwight ran the last call by Pinetops Rescue Squad.

Karen Johnson, who worked with Jefferson for several years, was heart broken about the lost.

“Dwight was one of a kind. A man dedicated to service as a public servant to his community," Johnson said. "All of his many years of public service wasn't something that he just did, but it was something that he was. It was not a job, it was what he was.

"Several years ago, when the Pinetops Rescue Squad went out of business, did that stop him? No. He picked right up and started working with the West Edgecombe Rescue and the Edgecombe County Rescue Squad. That showed what kind of man he was. That was his way of life. That was what he was meant to do."

Jefferson graduated from South Edgecombe High School. After graduating he joined the US Army and served from 1965-68. After his military career he attended East Carolina University. He also taught in the Edgecombe County Public Schools for more than 30 years. Several of his faternity teachers also attended the funeral.

The day that Jefferson died, members of the Edgecombe County Rescue squad assembled and grieved at the Tarboro rescue station. Johnson cosoled the crew.

"I said look everybody," Johnson said as she described the scene. "Dwight went the way that he wanted to go. The only other thing that would have made him happier was if it had happened inside the ambulance at the station. He went on his own term."

Burress said, "He could not have been anywhere else and been any more content that he was when he passed away."

After the funeral, Jefferson's body was placed in an Edgecombe County Rescue vehicle where it was transported to Queen Anne Cemetery in Fountain for his final resting place.

Jefferson is survived by his daughters, April Jefferson Short and Julie Jefferson Martine.

Text Only
Homepage
Pay-Dirt.jpg

Barrett Flowe, of Midland, drives Pay Dirt during the 2012 Pinetops 300. He and many others will be on hand this weekend at the annual tractor and truck pull.

  • PINETOPS 300

    PINETOPS  — One thing’s for certain, the first-time attendee at the Pinetops 300 truck and tractor pull will learn something in a hurry … these are not your Daddy and Grandaddy’s tractors!
    Some of the best known and most successful pullers in the country will converge School Street here tonight and Saturday to vie for honors in the longest running not-for-profit tractor pull in the Southeastern United States.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Happening in Tarboro Saturday
  • Parents and educators meet on school events and initiatives
Local News
DWI-Tests.jpg

The National Transportation Safety Board wants all 50 states to lower the blood alcohol content level to 0.05.

Sports
THS-Relay-Teams.jpg

Six Tarboro Viking track stars are going to compete in the NCHSAA 2-A state championship meet Friday in Greensboro at NC A&T State University.

  • Six Tarboro girls to compete in track finals

    Motivation is a big part of the Tarboro Viking girl's track team's success this season. They enjoy working hard during practice for their coach Rickie Dozier and get fulfillment when they compete in events. Friday will be no different for the six girls that are headed to Greensboro to compete in the NCHSAA 2-A state championship meet at North Carolina A&T State University. They will compete in three relay events and the long jump.

    May 16, 2013 2 Photos

  • BIG FISH
Opinion
  • We Salute...

    Each Friday, The Daily Southerner will recognize individuals, groups and businesses in Edgecombe County who have gone “above and beyond” in their effort to make this a better place to work, play and raise a family.

    May 17, 2013

Lifestyles
  • 5246-WED-Corbett.jpg Corbett/Chasse Wedding

    Brittney Joyce Corbett and Kenneth Robert Chasse, Jr. were united in marriage on April 6th, 2013, at 5:30pm at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Carrol Bradbury officiated the ceremony.
    The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted by Shirley and Donald Foreman, Grandparents of the Groom and also Elisha and Kenneth Chasse, Parents of the Groom, at Pizza Inn in Rocky Mount.
    The Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Durwood Corbett of Macclesfield, NC. The Groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Robert Leonel Chasse, Sr. of Pinetops, NC.

    May 13, 2013 1 Photo

Obituaries Archives
Food
Events
  • Edgecombe Events May 17

    Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave  a daytime contact phone number.

    May 17, 2013

Our Community
Tarboro's 2012 Christmas Parade


Poll

Does the IRS tax exempt disclosure concern you?

Yes
No
     View Results
CNHI Network News
AP Video
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Facebook
Peter Temple Tribute
Photo of the Day