'A hero who gave his life serving the community': Funeral held for Sussex firefighter

This story has been updated to clarify the dates of recent Sussex County line-of-duty deaths.

The line to get into Crossroad Community Church near Georgetown stretched around the building for hours Thursday.

About 1,000 people attended the viewing and funeral of Thomas Berry III, the 23-year-old Sussex County firefighter and EMS technician who died in the line of duty last week. After the service, over 100 fire trucks and other first responder vehicles followed the hearse in a procession through Georgetown.

"Thomas, he was a generational firefighter," said Ellendale Volunteer Fire Company President Kyle Perry. "On record, he was an eight-year member, but Thomas grew up in Ellendale and we've known him his entire life."

Berry was part of a long line of firefighters and EMTs, with relatives as far back as his great-grandfather serving the Ellendale Fire Company. At the time of his death, he was volunteering with both the Ellendale and Georgetown fire companies while working as a technician for Sussex County Emergency Medical Services.

On Aug. 13, Berry was driving an EMS vehicle to be serviced when he came upon an accident on Route 9, west of Georgetown, Sussex County Public Safety Director Robert Murray said. A car had struck a utility pole and Berry stopped to help, according to a Delaware State Police news release. As Berry assisted the driver, the pole snapped, bringing down electrical wires and killing him, the release said.

"He was a hero who gave his life serving the community," Murray said.

Those who spoke at the funeral told of Berry's passion and commitment to firefighting.

"He was always eager to learn, never too proud to ask for more information or a better way of doing things," Perry said.

Berry was named Ellendale Firefighter of the Year in 2022, but refused to show up to the ceremony to accept the award because he didn't like being the center of attention, Perry said.

Berry's fellow firefighters told humorous stories of trying to get him to dress up like a leprechaun; of their dogs liking Berry better than them; of Berry being so attached to his radio that, when he got his first girlfriend, they wondered if her name was "Motorola."

"He left his mark," Perry said, "And the story of the Ellendale Volunteer Fire Company cannot be told without him."

Berry's EMS supervisor, Bobby Schoonover, said he encouraged Berry to expand his skills and that he hoped to become a 911 dispatcher.

"He cared about all that he came in contact with, to the point he would do just about anything for anyone," Schoonover said.

Another firefighter read a letter from Berry's sister, Madison. The siblings were just 14 months apart and best friends, she wrote. Berry had shared with her he wanted to run for fire captain in Georgetown.

Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company Chief Mark Rogers said he encouraged Berry to run for captain and told him he could be chief one day, too.

"He was someone we could count on not only for the big, exciting alarms, but for those boring 3 a.m. alarms, too," Rogers said.

Berry moved to Georgetown as an adult and joined the fire company there last year, according to Rogers.

Sussex County has had several first responders die in the line of duty in recent years, including:

• Delmar Police Cpl. Keith Heacook, who was murdered while responding to a call in 2021,

• Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company member and Ladies Auxiliary President Laura Madara in 2021,

• Lewes Fire Department firefighter Tim Clanahan in 2016,

• Sussex County EMS paramedic Stephanie Callaway in 2008.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Firefighter Thomas Berry III honored in Georgetown funeral, procession