Charles Deaver, center, was named WFR’s 2025 Fireman of the Year at annual Christmas banquet Friday, December 5th.
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WALLACE — Wallace Fire and Rescue hosted its annual Christmas banquet on Friday, December 5. During the celebration, several firemen were honored for their many years of dedicated service to the people of Wallace and the broader Marlboro County community.
For Chaplain Charles Deaver a special honor was bestowed on him for the fourth time in his 47 years of service with WFR, that of Fireman of the Year.
“This recognition really does mean the world to me. It is a special honor them letting me be Fireman of the Year,” said Deaver.
For Deaver, firefighting is in his blood.
“My Dad [Johnnie Deaver] was with the McColl Fire Department for 25 years and my oldest brother [Robert Deaver] served for over 40 years,” said Deaver, adding he is a founding member of the WFR, which was esablished in 1978, and he has been a member ever since.
“I really enjoy it and I think we really have had a lot of good guys over the years, but I’d say we have a pretty good crew right now. I’m real proud of our team.”
In addition to being Firefighter of the Year, Deaver also honors his chaplain duties.
“The chaplain before me died and I took it up because I am a Christian and no one else volunteered,” says Deaver humbly. He continued, “Long as my God gives me the strength, I’ll be doing it.”
As part of his role as chaplain, Deaver visits with families, offers prayer before WFR meetings, and just generally checks in on the welfare of the WFR family.
“We work hard to keep our area covered — we had a car fire just this morning,” explains Deaver. “We always have somebody on hand. That is why I am so proud of the team we have. We also offer mutual aid to Rockingham and Hamlet, as well as all over Marlboro County — when they need help, we come.”