LIVE OAK, Fla. (WTXL) — Remembering the life of James Sommers.
Tuesday, family, friends and coworkers honored the Suwannee County Public Safety Director who died in a motorcycle crash last week.
An emotional day as hundreds of mourners gathered Tuesday to honor the life of longtime firefighter James Sommers. Law enforcement and first responders from across Florida paid their respects to the fallen firefighter.
Sommers was with the department for 19 years and served as the Public Safety director for seven years, but family members say his legacy will continue on.
"He brought Suwanee County small town fire department and brought in big town ideas and that was great for the community," said Ed Sommers, the brother of Chief James Sommers
.
Ed Sommers says his brother's leadership paved the future for Suwannee County Fire, which was an all-volunteer operation 20 years ago. Chief Sommers leaves behind a department with five paid stations, 60 people on staff, and a community that will not forget his service.
