Former Gaffney fire chief laid to rest
'To me Donald Parris is and was a special man, a real man, a hero.'
By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

Donald Parris's flag-draped coffin is removed from a Macedonia Volunteer Fire Department truck.

A lifetime of service to Cherokee County was met with a funeral procession that stretched at least a mile in length Thursday as dozens of area firefighters said goodbye to one of their own.

Former Gaffney Fire Chief Donald Glen Parris, 71, was laid to rest in Frederick Memorial Gardens following a traditional firefighter's funeral, complete with bagpipes and a salute from all of his brothers and sisters in public service.

"To me Donald Parris is and was a special man, a real man, a hero," said Rev. Richard Lancaster, one of three ministers to officiate a service at Macedonia Baptist Church on Thursday. "Donald Parris, as all men do, preached his own funeral by the life he lived before us."

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Parris also was buried with military honors and 21-gun salute. A charter member of the Macedonia Volunteer Fire Department, his flag-draped coffin was carried from the church to the grave site by a Macedonia Fire Department truck draped in black. Firefighters and chiefs from every department in the county served as honor guard.

After retiring from firefighting, Parris went to work as an emergency dispatcher for 9-1-1. His calm and clear voice from the dispatch center was remembered fondly.

The funeral procession included a dozen fire trucks, all of which activated their flashing lights but not their sirens as the procession snaked its way from the church to the grave site.

Rev. Mike Proctor said he remembered when Parris first received news he had cancer.

"You couldn't have blamed him if a little bit of self pity crept in," Proctor said. "(But) the only thing I saw was love."

Later visiting and talking with Parris in the hospital, Proctor said the former chief talked about everything but himself. While cancer was eating away his life, Proctor said, "It couldn't take away his joy or his peace. It couldn't touch his sense of humor."

Parris never showed signs of worry.

"Rarely have I seen anyone so at peace about leaving this world, or as confident about his destination," Rev. Proctor said.