By Amy Leigh Womack
The Macon Telegraph
MACON, Ga. — Jimmy Waters spent many afternoons and evenings at Fire Station No. 5 on Second Street, just down the road from the former location of Mabel White Memorial Baptist Church, where he was pastor for more than 30 years.
A ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon to dedicate the station and name it for the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department’s first chaplain.
Waters’ widow, Annette, and Macon Mayor Jack Ellis unveiled a memorial plaque bearing his service dates — May 1948 to February 2004 — just inside the station’s front door.
Fire Chief Jimmy Hartley described Waters as a firefighter’s best cheerleader and as the man who offered up many prayers during raging fires and tense situations over the years.
“Next to God and family, Jimmy’s lifelong passion was serving those who serve others,” Hartley said.
Waters was pastor at Mabel White Memorial Baptist Church from 1945 to 1977 and Tattnall Square Baptist Church for 10 years while also broadcasting sermons on local TV and radio stations.
In addition to ministering to his congregations and serving as chaplain for the Macon-Bibb Fire Department, he also served as chaplain for the Macon Police Department, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, GBI and other public safety organizations.
He served as chaplain for both the fire and police departments for more than five decades until his health declined. He died Feb. 12, 2004.
“He was always ready to answer the call,” Hartley told representatives from the Macon City Council, firefighters and other members of the community who gathered inside the fire station’s truck bay along with Waters’ family.
There was rarely a major fire when Waters wasn’t on scene, carrying water for firefighters to drink or kneeling with them to pray, Hartley said.
“He was always a voice of calm and reason,” he said.
Waters’ daughter, Deborah Waters Stevens of Macon, expressed gratitude to the crowd on behalf of her family.
“I know Daddy is enjoying every minute of this,” Stevens said. “It’s just an honor.”
She shared fond memories of her father’s devotion to firefighters.
“We couldn’t go on a trip without that scanner on,” Stevens said holding back laughter and tears. “He’d say, ‘go ahead, go ahead, what’s your 10-20?’
“I know all the signals.”
Copyright 2007 The Macon Telegraph
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News