UPDATE 10:09 a.m. 9/5: Baker comment, procession details
by Robin Kemp
Forest Park Firefighter/EMT John Clay Gaddy, 48, died September 2 after a battle with COVID-19.
Gaddy, who was assigned to Station 3 and who served 12 years with the department, died at Spalding Regional Medical Center in Griffin.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 17, at Rock Springs Church, 219 Rock Springs Road, in Milner. Chief Jon Baker and Lt. Conway Ferguson will conduct services.
A firefighters’ procession will travel from Georgia State Patrol Post 1 in Griffin to Rock Springs Church shortly after 10:30 a.m. and should last about 15 minutes. Only fire and police vehicles are allowed in the procession. Members of the public who wish to pay tribute are invited to stand on the side of Georgia Hwy. 16 (Arthur K. Bolton Parkway) between the Georgia State Patrol post eastbound to the intersection of High Falls Road only, due to safety and parking concerns:
The public is invited to the church but should be aware that many seats are reserved for firefighters.
“He was a certified arson investigator, AOIC–which is acting officer in charge–certified fire apparatus operator, which means he was certified to drive our fire engines and aerial apparatus,” Baker said. “He also was certified as a fire instructor and helped teach many classes for our recruits and for the Fire Marshal’s Office.”
Gaddy also served as a paramedic for Forest Park, an on-shift investigator for the Fire Marshal’s Office, an adjunct instructor at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC), and a police officer.
He leaves behind his wife of 14 years, Kriss; his children, Tyler (Lacey), Amber (Michael), Morgan, and Caleb; his brothers Brad (Kimberly) and Scott and sister Michelle; and five grandchildren.
Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home, 208 Johnson Street, Hogansville is in charge of arrangements.
