Duty Death: Harold Boone - [Forsyth]
End of Service: 02/11/2020
By Rachel Engel
MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — A Monroe County Emergency Service firefighter/emergency medical responder passed away after a month-long battle with COVID-19.
Harold Boone, 49, tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 19 and was soon hospitalized and placed on a ventilator at Macon’s Medical Center Navicent Health. He ultimately contracted double pneumonia and was unable to recover, the agency reported on social media.
https://www.facebook.com/mcgaEMA/posts/211843013621632
Monroe County Emergency Services Chief Matthew Jackson said of Boone’s death: “Our department is truly devastated by the passing of Firefighter Harold Boone. Harold was an exemplary employee who was highly respected throughout this department and the community. One of our volunteers told us last night that Harold was the reason he wanted to be a part of the fire service and he looked at Harold as his mentor. I have no doubt that there are many other persons who are firefighters today because of the example Harold set and the mentoring he gave to new firefighters over his long career in the fire service. Harold loved to make people laugh, and he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Boone and his family during this difficult time.”
A firefighter/EMR at Monroe County Emergency Service since 2016, Boone previously served with the Macon-Bibb Fire Department for 25 years. He also served for several years in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Former MCES Fire Chief Donny Mercer said Boone was doing the job for others.
“He always did his job with a smile,” Mercer said. “It’s hard to find those guys in the public safety world who are doing it for the citizens and not for personal gain.”
Boone is survived by his wife, Sharon, and granddaughter, Nyjhae, 12.