Cherokee Fire And EMS Mourn Ex-Employee's Death From Cancer

CANTON, GA -- Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services is mourning the loss of one of its former employees, the agency announced Monday. Phil Sheffer died at his home Sunday night after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Sheffer began his career with Cherokee EMS in April 1988 before moving on to the fire department, then later serving as the Information Systems Manager and Deputy Director of Administrative Services. He earned the rank of sergeant after that and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant with the fire department in July 2007.

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He retired from the fire department in 2011 after 23 years of service with Cherokee, the county said.

"Phil has been battling liver cancer for some time. Ironically, Georgia lawmakers passed House Bill 146 in March of this year that will require fire departments to provide insurance coverage for cancer starting in 2018," the fire department said in a news release. "The measure was critical because with all the plastics and petroleum products in people’s homes, firefighters are more likely to have contact with carcinogens."

Sheffer leaves behind a wife Jodi and a son, Reece. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 7 at 5 p.m. from the Chapel of Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge. The family is open to visits from friends on Friday from 2 to 5 p.m.

Image courtesy of Cherokee Fire