After dedicating nearly 40 years to the Beaufort Fire Department, longtime volunteer firefighter Joe Robinson lost his battle with cancer. When he was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago, his fellow firefighters and the community stood behind him, holding benefits, blood drives, whatever it took. Now his legacy is being remembered.

"He was a federal firefighter and worked a demanding schedule," said Dan Byrne, Beaufort's fire marshal. "He raised a family and still found the time to respond as a volunteer without pay at three o'clock in the morning when one of his neighbors were in trouble."

That's the legacy Robinson leaves behind after serving as a volunteer firefighter for Beaufort and Port Royal for nearly four decades.

"There's probably not a street you can drive down in either county that there's not a street still standing because Joe Robinson was there to put [a fire] out," said Byrne.

He even continued his service throughout his battle with cancer.

"On the fireground, he was there day or night, no matter what the weather, changing out the air cylinders for firefighters, making sure they were okay," recalled Chief Wendell Wilburn of the Beaufort FD. "I kept having to pull the reins back on Joe, he wanted to be there, be part of it. We wanted him to take care of himself, but he put this fire department ahead of everything."

Robinson's legacy will live on at the fire station. In fact, a career acheivment plaque hangs there in his name.

"He took everyone under his wing," said Capt. Sammy Breland. "He was like a father figure to young career firefighters. You could ask him questions, if he didn't know the answer, he would get you the answer."

"He's is an inspiration to this fire department and he's what we all strive as firefighter to be," said Dan Byrne.

Viewing hours will be held Saturday evening at Anderson Funeral Home from 6pm to 8pm. The funeral will take place at Carteret Street United Methodist Church at 2pm on Sunday.