In Memory
Fireman’s Prayer
When I am called to duty, God whenever flames may rage,Give me the strength to save some life Whatever be its age.
Help me to embrace a little child Before it’s too late, Or some older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert And hear the weakest shout, And quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and give the best in me, To guard my neighbor And protect his property.
And if according to Your will I have to lose my life, Please bless with Your protecting hand My children and my wife.
The Grand Lakes Fire & Rescue Department Salutes, Honors, & Remembers all the men and women who have given their lives during the call of duty to protect and serve, and their families.
This page is dedicated in loving memory to those who served with the Grand Lakes Fire & Rescue Department that have gone home to be with our Lord. Their dedication, service, and friendship will always be cherished.
Jerry Newcomb
1938 – 2016
Served as Chief from 1968 to 1970
Jerry Newcomb –
You gave so much to the Grand Lakes Fire District over the many years. You were appreciated more then I believed you knew. I always loved picking on you and you always had something to come back with. It was an honor to have known you throughout the years and to call you my friend.
– Chief Watkins
Jerry Newcomb,78, of Grand Rivers died Friday evening, February 5th, 2016 at Lourdes Hospital of Paducah.
Jerry was the first fire chief of the Grand Lakes Fire District and played an integral part of the fire dept. for 36 years. Jerry was a 30 yr. retired laborer for BF Goodrich and worked for the city of Grand Rivers as a maintenance man after his retirement. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. He was a member of Lake City Baptist Church and recently attended Grand Rivers Baptist Church.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jeanetta; two sons, Mark (Sherry) Newcomb of Grand Rivers, and Bro. Troy (Missy) Newcomb of Salem; one sister, Dorothy (Ted) Bone of Lake City; one grandson, Daniel Newcomb of Salem; several nieces and nephews; and his loving dog Ginger.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emmett and Minnie Head Newcomb; one brother, Dee (Marge)Newcomb; and one sister, Carolyn Gentry.
Burial with full fire fighter honors at White Oak Cemetery in Clay, Ky.
Aleascya “Aly” Lauren Campbell
1998 – 2017
Served from 2016 to 2017
Aly Campbell –
I have watched you grow up in this department and you had talked about joining this department after you had completed your EMT-B class. You were already a part of us and had been for a long time, since you were in our explorer program. I was looking forward to have you respond and help out on our calls. God had other plans for you, I guess he needed another angel in heaven, your faith in the Lord was always strong.
– Chief Watkins
Aleascya “Aly” Lauren Campbell, 19, of Smithland passed away on Sunday, December 24, 2017.
Aly was a student at WKCTC and a member of Calvary Baptist Church. She was part of the Grand Lakes Fire Department Family. She enjoyed leading the sign team and working in the nursery at her church. She also loved to play volleyball and basketball, as well as spending time with her friends and family.
Surviving is her father Chad Campbell and wife Tonya of Paducah; mother, Rebecca Oliver and husband Michael of Smithland; four sisters, Tori Campbell, Brittany (Ryan) Buckman, Tiffany Layne, and Heather Layne; grandparents, Dee Ann Campbell of Okeechobee, FL and John and Jan Prescott of Murray; two nieces, Kaylie and Aubrey Buckman; several aunts and uncles; and a special cousin, Cammie Prescott.
She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Richard W. Campbell.
History of the Fireman’s Prayer
The Fireman’s Prayer was originally published in a book called, “A Celebration of Poets” in 1958. The last copyright of the book was 1998. It is the family’s desire that the credit for the Firemen’s Prayer go to the author, A.W. Smokey Linn.
The only way he could find to ease the pain of such a tragedy was to sit down and put his thoughts on paper. The phrase, “enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout”, sends a chill up a firefighter’s spine as you imagine what he experienced on that fateful night. It was a particularly tough time for him as he had young children around the same age.While most accounts of the Firemen’s Prayer conclude with Author Unknown, the world renowned poem was written by Firefighter A.W. “Smokey” Linn. As a young firefighter in 1958 Linn and his crew responded to a fire in which three children were trapped behind security bars and died in the fire.
His granddaughter, Penny McGlachlin said that back then there were no grief counselors to help the firefighters. Penny believes this was an actual prayer from him, to god for the sake of his own family, the other fireman, and the families of the children.
Smokey joined the Wichita, Kansas Fire Department in 1947 after returning from World War 2. He retired in 1975 and became president of the local chapter of the Good Sam Camping Club. He passed away March 31, 2004 of complications following surgery.
Station I
271 West Mississippi Avenue,
Grand Rivers KY 42045
Station II
1021 Jake Duke Road,
Grand Rivers KY 42045
Station III
1354 Tiline Road,
Grand Rivers, KY 42045
