Phelmer Barber, 96, passed away Friday, September 21, 2007 in
Panama City Beach, FL at his grandson's home. He was born on October 09, 1910 in
Barganza, Georgia. In Phelmer's families eyes he was the world's greatest
Grandpa and Firefighter! He was the oldest retired firefighter with the City of
Jacksonville. He worked 24 years with the Jacksonville Fire Department and
retired in 1968. Most of his time spent working with the City of Jacksonville he
was an Engineer, Driving Engine #1 out of Old Downtown #1 Station. Phelmer was
very proud of his Fire Department Heritage and started what would become four
generations of Florida Fire Fighters. He was preceded in death by his wife,
Stella "Steck" Barber and is survived by his, step-son, James E. Brown
(Dorothy); 1 grandson, Stephen Brown (Connie); granddaughter, Valerie Sawyer;
great-grandchildren, Kelly Brown-Littlefield (Dexter), Tonya McKinney (Brad),
Matt Kirkland, Robbie Sawyer, and Jamie Sawyer; great-great-grandchildren, Alex
and Lauren McKinney, Nathaniel and Andrew Kirkland; his very special nieces,
Ruthie Ferko, and Shirley Otto (Charlie) along with many other nieces and
nephew, Linda Sue Platt, Ruth Ann Pridgen, and Claude Jones; His personal health
care aid "his special angel", Cheryl Florio; his good friend, Wayne Doolittle
and all the Jacksonville Fire Department Union Members of Local #122. The family
visitation to greet friends will be from 6:00pm until 8:00pm, Tuesday, September
25, 2007 at HARDAGE-GIDDENS MAIN STREET FUNERAL HOME, 4315 Main Street,
Jacksonville, FL. 32206. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September
26, 2007 at 11:00am at Hardage-Giddens Main Street Funeral Home Chapel with the
Jacksonville Firefighters Honor Guard. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers you may send memorials to the Covenant Hospice of Panama
City, Florida. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com
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Phelmer Barber |
The following is an article that ran in the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension News dated October 2006: |
 |
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Members, and Staff we send "Happy Birthday"
wishes to Phelmer Barber, our oldest retired Firefighter who will celebrate his
96th birthday on October 9th. Phelmer joined the Jacksonville Fire Department on May 01, 1944, an important career move after a brief employment in public transit, working as a City bus driver on the Lake Shore Express. During his early career, Phelmer was first assigned to Station #2 in Springfield, later assigned to station #1 with his final duty assignment at Station #16 then located at Imeson Airport on North Main Street. |
"I began and ended my career assigned to Stations near Main Street" he
said, noting that Station 1 was located at the time in the unit block of East
Adams Street. Midway in his career that lasted 24 years and one month, Phelmer
was promoted to Engineer. During his career, he accumulated 198 days of sick
leave and used only two days during a career that lasted 8,790 days. This
accomplishment is especially notable when you consider that the majority of his
service with the Fire Department was spent during the two platoon system when
Firefighters worked every other day.
He met his wife in Bradenton, FL. They were married 55 years prior to her
death. He has one step-son, Ernest Brown, who was a Firefighter in Jacksonville
and went to become the Fire Chief in Panama City Beach. He has one grandchild
who also became a Fire Chief in Panama City.
In 2005, Phelmer became a true Union Member of the International
Association of Firefighters of Jacksonville - Local 122.
Phelmer lives in North Jacksonville, not far from Main Street. At 96
years of age, he's never had an operation, still mows his own yard, does his own
cooking (three meals a day), takes care of his own personal affairs, and still
drives. He enjoys going to the Retired Firefighter breakfast each month.
When he visited the Pension Fund office, he received a "Certificate of
Recognition" from John Keane for being the Oldest Fire Retiree of the Police and
Fire Pension Fund along with receiving his hat that he's wearing in the photo.
We wish Phelmer a very "Happy Birthday", continued good health, and many
more celebrations in the years ahead.
Phelmer Barber Photo Gallery
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