Summer Williams, a member of the Fuquay-Varina Fire Department, lost her three-year battle with cancer after serving the community for the past nine years.

Williams started with the at the age of 14, according to Fire Chief Anthony Mauldin.

She was able to complete her certification in November of 2021 and never missed a class — even after being diagnosed with Stage 4 acral lentiginous melanoma skin cancer, WRAL.com reported.

“She just had that passion to be a firefighter and that’s what we loved about her," Mauldin said. "She is an inspiration for everyone, including all of us here,” Chief Mauldin told WRAL.com.

Mauldin said being a firefighter was William’s dream, adding that she had a passion to help and always had a smile on her face.