Jimmy was born on September 28‚ 1961 in Monroe‚ North Carolina. He grew up in rural Chester County‚ South Carolina amid a community of volunteer firefighters including his brothers and uncle.
Jimmy’s life growing up involved going to school and learning farming‚ carpentry‚ electrical and mechanical skills. He was definitely known as ‘the jack of all trades.’ Many hours were spent helping his uncle in his auto mechanic business and afterwards being covered in black grease and oil.
One of his first jobs was working as a mechanic and wrecker driver for an uncle in Morristown‚ Tennessee. This began his love for big trucks. Jimmy then went to a local truck driver school in Chester and obtained his CDL license. After truck driving school‚ he began working for a friend who owned a small truck driving business. He loved being out on the road and seeing different things he would have never seen otherwise. This was definitely one of his greatest passions! One day out on the road‚ Jimmy had stopped at a gas station and across the road there was another gas station which blew up. He pulled a woman out of her vehicle and held her in his arms as she slowly passed on.
His experiences with driving the wrecker and truck driving across the United States sparked his interest in rescue and recovery‚ as well as firefighting. He was a dedicated member of the South Chester Fire Department for over twenty years and put his mechanical and carpentry skills to good use in maintenance of department vehicles and buildings.
As a volunteer department‚ many repairs and building construction were done by the members. As he became more active with the department‚ it was a common comment in the community to say‚ ‘Call Jimmy!’
Even though he discovered a heart condition in 1991‚ Jimmy continued to work and serve his community as much as possible. He had a great desire to help his family‚ friends‚ and neighbors in the community. As long as Jimmy was in town‚ he was always the first to reach the scene. The fire department became his second home. Surviving is his daughter‚ Jami Nicol Cameron‚ his mother‚ three brothers and two sisters‚ and many nieces and nephews.
He was loved dearly and is missed greatly.
RIP My one and TRUE LOVE!You. Are with our Son now,Joshua Kane….will see and be with you both someday!Until then,,,,In my heart always
– Kathy Ledbetter Cullipher