MADISON, Ga. — Funeral services for Chris Eddy, a well-known and highly respected firefighter with Greene County Fire Rescue and Morgan County Fire Rescue, were held Sunday in the gymnasium at Morgan County High School in Madison.

Aside from working full-time in Greene County, he also worked part-time as a firefighter at the Buckhead Station of Morgan County Fire Rescue and with the Putnam County Fire Department.

Eddy, who served as a battalion chief with Greene County Fire Rescue, was killed in the line of duty Sept. 4 during an explosion while battling a tractor-trailer fire on Ga. Route 15 on the outskirts of Greensboro.

State authorities are still investigating the tragedy.

Hundreds of firefighters and law enforcement officers from across Georgia attended services for Eddy. Deputies with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and Morgan County Sheriff’s Office attended the services in dress uniform. More than a dozen troopers with the Georgia State Patrol also paid their respects.

Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp also paid their respects to the beloved fallen firefighter. They were seen wiping tears as they passed by the flag-draped coffin of the career firefighter.

The Kemps were not alone in their time of emotion. Firefighters who had known Eddy and considered him not only a fellow firefighter but a friend, also shed tears during the combined services.

Fire trucks and ambulances dotted the campus of Morgan County High School.

An honor guard with the Georgia Emergency Management/Homeland Security Agency stood watch from the time visitation began to just before the funeral service started.

Eddy, who leaves behind his wife, Lindsey, and his son, Bryson, as well as his father, Bob Eddy; his mother, Lisa Dalton; and his in-laws, Marty and Kay Sisk, was honored with eulogies by friends and colleagues.

One of them was Greene County Manager and veteran firefighter Byron Lombard. He served as chief at Walker Church Fire Station for several years and remains a local member of the county fire services.

Lombard described Eddy as an incredible firefighter and said even though he was much older than Eddy, he had “especially learned” from Chief Eddy.

As Greene County evolved with Greene County Fire Rescue a few years ago, Eddy was hired to become the new battalion chief of B-Shift.

Lombard said he witnessed Eddy’s work, and the more he watched him, the more he realized he had become a knowledgeable and capable leader in fire service.

“His dedication, his passion and his commitment to fire services was undeniable,” Lombard said. “His personality was infectious and inspiring. Anyone listening to him to teach fire tactics or lead fire training had to recognize his fire service knowledge and his experience.”

Lombard confessed that his having known Eddy for years, it was easy to call him by his first name.

When he was hired as battalion chief in 2019, Lombard said it was a leadership role that he had earned the honor of being called Chief Eddy.

“I did my absolute best to always recognize him as Chief Eddy, as he had and he still has my deepest respect,” Lombard said. “After over 35 years in the fire service myself, I found myself learning from one of the best and admiring his passion and his desire to serve.”

Lombard said Eddy helped build an incredible team at Greene County Fire Rescue.

“We owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude,” Lombard said. “Chief Eddy will be irreplaceable. This tragedy has left a mark on all of us, and that mark will never go away. We will figure out how to regroup and continue to provide the exemplary service to the community that Chief Eddy helped build as he would want us to do. We will do so to honor him and his legacy. But we will never forget him.”

He offered condolences to Eddy’s family.

“Please know that we grieve with you, and we will do everything in our power to help you and support you,” Lombard said. “Chief Eddy made the ultimate sacrifice and service to Greene County and I choose to honor him, respect him, and appreciate him until we meet again. God’s speed Chief Eddy.”

Greene County Fire Rescue Chief Rodney Wiggins also addressed the large crowd.

“In the wake of this recent tragedy and overwhelming support for our Greene County Fire Rescue family has been truly humbling,” Wiggins said. “We extend our deepest thanks to every fire department, business and individual that has reached out to us.”

He said the compassion and love shown by everyone has provided strength and comfort to those who work with Greene County Fire Rescue.

“It is an important reminder of the deep bonds within our fire service community and a profound component that we have on one another in times of need,” Wiggins said.

The funeral service was officiated by Danny Harrell, lead pastor at Covenant Park Church in Morgan County, where the Eddy family were members.

Eddy’s mother-in-law, Kay Sisk, and one of her sons, one of Eddy’s brothers-in-law, also spoke during the funeral service.

At the end of the service, Chief Eddy’s flag-draped coffin was loaded high onto the top of Greene County Fire Rescue Engine Company No. 11.

A wreath was placed on the front of the fire engine and later it rolled down the road slowly from the school gym along with what seemed to be an endless procession of fire trucks, ambulances and law enforcement vehicles.