VIDEO: Effingham County welcomed home a fallen firefighter Tuesday afternoon.
Effingham County Battalion Chief Matt Kicklighter died of natural causes over the weekend in Daytona Beach, FL, where officials say he was attending a fire and rescue conference.
The rain felt very fitting during the procession. First responders from across the county and community members watched along Highway 21 where Kicklighter came back into the county.
Effingham Fire and EMS, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Rincon Fire, Guyton Fire, and the Rincon Police Department all helped with the processional.
“I’m sure he’s looking down on us saying, ‘why are y’all doing all this,’ because he was just a humble guy,” said family friend, Shania Williams. “It just means a lot to come out and celebrate his life and everything because he meant so much to us.”
According to his obituary, Kicklighter was a firefighter with the Effingham Fire Department and Springfield Fire Department. He was just 45-years-old.