John Craig

CHICORA — John “Chester” Craig spent more than 50 years serving the Chicora community as an emergency first responder.

The community honored him this weekend with an emotional memorial service, just days after his death.

“He was the face of the fire department,” said Fire Chief Cody Craig. “He still is.”

John Craig died of natural causes on Wednesday at the age of 69.

Hundreds of people on Saturday attended the memorial services for Craig at the Chicora Methodist Church, at his interment at the Hemphill Cemetery and afterward at a gathering at the fire hall.

Several fire departments from across the county also showed up and a LifeFlight medical helicopter did a fly over.

“It was nice to see this type of send-off,” said his nephew, Jarod Craig. “He wouldn't have wanted this much of a fuss made, but our family is really appreciating it.”

Everyone who spoke about Craig spoke about the selflessness he showed toward the community.

“Day or night, he'd be there for you,” said Lt. Dave Fennell with the volunteer fire department.

Fennell said he served many years with Craig, who had served the department as chief, president and a board member.

“As the times changed and equipment got better, he never had trouble adapting,” Fennell said.

Rick Craig, his cousin, said the two joined the fire department together as teenagers in the 1960s.

“He spent a lot of time there before he was even allowed to join,” Rick Craig said. “We were both raised in firefighter families.”

Rick Craig said his cousin was an encouraging chief who was able to calmly talk to the crew while still getting the best out of them.

“He always knew what to say,” he said.Mayor Lisa Nagy, who said she knew Craig since she was a child, said the man taught a generation of emergency responders.“He helped mentor so many firefighters and emergency responders,” she said. “So many looked at him as a father figure — as a mentor.”Nagy said she was amazed with how the community came together to remember Craig.“The community loved him,” she said. “He had a servant's heart.”Close friend Michael Turner, captain of the Chicora EMS, said Craig had been a mentor to him since he joined the ambulance service in 2003.“I got to run my first EMS call with John,” he said. “I remember asking him what he got me into, and he told me everything would be all right. He said, 'Just stay beside me.'”Turner added Craig stayed devoted to the ambulance service into his late 60s, adding he had just renewed his certification to be an EMT.While the community knew him as the man always offering a helping hand, his friends and family remember him for his love of hunting, NASCAR and sports.Jarod Craig reminisced about hunting trips he would take with John Craig to a cabin in Forrest County.“He was an avid hunter,” he said. “We had a lot of great times there.”Corey Craig said he remembers John Craig's love for the Pittsburgh Pirates, adding he would always post the team's “Raise the Jolly Roger” motto on Facebook after a victory.“It didn't matter where he was at, he'd always post it,” Corey Craig said. “The family would sometimes wait for it to pop up and be the first one to 'Like' it.”

Corey Craig got everyone in attendance at the memorial service at the church to shout the motto one last time for Craig.Craig's two children said the community's goodbye to their father was heartwarming.“We're overwhelmed by the support,” said his son, Robert Craig. “We really just want to say thank you to the community.”Craig's daughter, Beth Ekis of Karns City, said the day was a special way to honor her father.“I think it's a way for everybody to say thank you to him,” she said.