ANGIER, N.C.-- A volunteer from the Angier & Black River Fire Department in North Carolina collapsed and died the afternoon of May 9, after battling a house fire the previous day.
Ottis Earl Stephenson, 61 -- a 21-year veteran of the department -- was at his day job as a security officer at the Museum of National Science in Railiegh, N.C. during the time of his death.
Chief Frankie Hobson said the house fire Stephenson responded to occurred at approximately 7:21 p.m. on May 8.
Hobson said he joined just prior to Stephenson and enjoyed working beside him. "He was the one you always turned to for uplifting. He always had a smile," he said, noting he was nicknamed "Big Earl" because of his imposing size.
"He loved the fire service and all the members of the community. He was just well known, well liked," he said. "He's going to be missed."
He is survived by his two sisters, Ann Moore and Molly Phillips.
Funeral Information
Visitation for Firefighter Stephenson will held Saturday, May 12 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bryan Lee Funeral Home, 300 East Mciver Street, Angier, N.C.
The funeral will be held Sunday, May 13 at 2 p.m. at Angier Baptist Church, 155 South Hickory Street, Angier, N.C.
Burial will follow at Lakeside Memorial Gardens in Angier, N.C.
