MCES Holds 5th Annual Virtual Smokin’ 5K Race in Memory of Fallen Firefighter Boone

Aiden Bramlett and Catherine Chambliss were the overall winners of Monroe County Emergency Services' (MCES) 5th Annual Virtual Smokin' 5K Race on Saturday, Nov. 2.

The race, which is organized annually by Culloden volunteer firefighter Dr. Margie Bryant, is held in memory of the late MCES firefighter Harold Boone, who died of complications from COVID-19 at the age of 49 in 2020. A check for $2,500 in proceeds from Saturday's race was presented to Boone's 16-year-old granddaughter, Nyjhae Boone-Whitehead, to go toward a college scholarship fund in her honor. Boone-Whitehead is a junior at Macon-Bibb County's Northeast High School.

In a ceremony held Saturday morning at the MCES headquarters station, MCES staff publicly unveiled a room named in Boone's memory, called "Boone's Corner" with lounge chairs and a TV for Station 1 firefighters to enjoy some down time. MCES Cpt. Christina Bramlett said Boone set the standard for young firefighters to model themselves after and said the room is a way that Boone's legacy can be kept alive even for those firefighters who didn't know him personally.

"When you're in the brotherhood, you're in it for life," Cpt. Bramlett said.

Bryant said when she and others, including Macon-Bibb Firefighter Lt. Greg Stephens, Macon-Bibb Fire Battalion Chief Shaun Hart and retired MCES Administrative Assistant Roxie Dewberry, first put this race together shortly after Boone's passing in 2020, it was intended that it would carry on until Boone-Whitehead completed high school. Thanks to continued participation by community members and financial donations from charitable sponsors, over $19,000 in funds have been raised for Boone-Whitehead's future college education over the past five years. Bryant gave out special thank you awards on Saturday to citizens who have worked tirelessly to make the race a continued reality including: Stephens, Hart, Dewberry, Deacon Nathan Flagg, and Jimmy Pierson.

District 1 Commissioner Lamarcus Davis served as the keynote speaker at Saturday's event. Commissioner Davis said he didn't know Boone well but said that MCES wanting to name a room in Boone's memory is indicative of the type of man he was. Commissioner Davis said he could also relate to Boone's battle with COVID-19, saying he spent 13 days in the hospital, including six in the intensive care unit, after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Commissioner Davis urged Boone-Whitehead to live out her father's dream for her and to do everything in life in her father's memory.

Northeast High School Principal Donna Walker-Thompson also spoke at Saturday's ceremony. Walker-Thompson said it's a privilege to attend an event in honor of a student who always does what she's supposed to be doing. Walker-Thompson read aloud comments from several of Boone-Whitehead's teachers describing the 16-year-old as "hard-working" with "a great personality," "a kind and loving person who brightens everyone's day around her," and "a quiet genius."

Boone's widow, Sharon Boone, noted that Saturday marked the fourth anniversary of her husband's passing. She said Boone's death is a reminder that you should tell your loved ones that you love them daily. Sharon Boone said she never imagined she'd be a widow at such a young age.

Boone's mother, Hattie Boone, said she misses her son every day, but she's proud of how he lived his life.

Hattie Boone said, "If you teach him what is right, he'll do what is right for a lifetime."

Race winners were announced and presented with awards at Saturday's ceremony. Male winners included with race times in minutes in parentheses: 1^st Place Overall - Aiden Bramlett (19:10), 1^st Place Age 11-14 - Shane Hall (26:08), and 1^st Place Age 75-79 - Jimmy Pierson (49:12). Female winners included: 1^st Place Overall - Catherine Chambliss (39:18), 1^st Place Age 11-14 - Gracie Hall (50:58), 1^st Place Age 35-39 - Miranda Hall (53:57), 1^st Place Age 45-49 - Dr. MeQuanta McCord (49:27), 1^st Place Age 60-64 - Roxie Dewberry (67:00), 1^st Place Age 70-74 - Johnnie Sylvain (42:19), and 2^nd Place Age 70-74 - Dr. Margie Bryant (51:00).

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.