1 of 4
Photo by Erin Nelson.
Family, friends and fellow firefighters gathered Aug. 15 at the Pelham Civic Complex to celebrate the life of Chelsea’s first fire chief, Wayne Shirley Jr. Shirley served as chief of Chelsea Fire and Rescue for 19 years.
2 of 4
Photo by Erin Nelson.
Fire departments across greater Birmingham travel down U.S. 280 as Engine 33 of ChelseaFire and Rescue transports Chelsea Fire ChiefWayne Shirley Jr. to Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery on Aug. 15.
3 of 4
Photo by Erin Nelson.
Family, friends and fellow firefighters gathered at the Pelham Civic Complex to celebrate the life of Chelsea’s first fire chief, Wayne Shirley Jr.
4 of 4
Photo by Erin Nelson.
Family, friends and fellow firefighters gathered at the Pelham Civic Complex to celebrate the life of Chelsea’s first fire chief, Wayne Shirley Jr.
The city of Chelsea lost its first and only fire chief Aug.6. Chief Wayne Shirley passed away at the age of 53 from a chronic liver disease. He went into the hospital July 8 and was on the transplant list when things took a turn for the worst.
It was over 19 years ago when the city of Chelsea began its municipal fire department. Shirley was named chief on Jan. 2, 2001, and served in the role until his death. During that time, he grew the Chelsea Fire and Rescue department to three stations and nearly 60 employees.
Through his leadership, he helped guide Chelsea Fire and Rescue to become a department that excels in fire service, emergency medical services — featuring advanced life support with patient transport capabilities — and sophisticated weather monitoring with an outdoor warning system. He also served as the city’s emergency management coordinator.
Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer said “being fire chief wasn’t just Shirley’s job, it was his way of life.”
Shirley spent his entire life in the Chelsea community. He began as a volunteer with Chelsea Fire and Rescue in 1981 before graduating from Chelsea High School in 1984. He completed his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and paramedic training at UAB in 1986. Chief Shirley earned a Bachelor of Science degree in fire science administration and an associate’s degree of applied science in fire science management.
Chelsea Deputy Fire Chief Joe Lee had been friends with Shirley since they played Little League baseball when they were 11 years old. Lee said that from an early age Shirley had a passion for public service, and it was no surprise that he wound up as fire chief.
Lee retired from the Bessemer Fire Department after 25 years and has been working at the Chelsea department since 2015. At the beginning of July, Shirley approached him about becoming deputy fire chief.
“To be honest, I was as shocked as anyone,” Lee said. “He and I had conversations about the department in the past, but just as two friends talking about things, two guys who have been in the business a long time. I did not accept immediately but went home and talked to my wife and people I trust and came back and accepted the job a few days later. I knew about his liver problems. We talked about him being on the liver transplant list. He knew they’d call him to get a liver, and he’d be off for a while. I expected to fill in his absence, but I never dreamed it would come to this.”
Picklesimer said Shirley called him the morning of July 7 and asked for a meeting.
“He walked in my office that morning and said ‘I’d like to ask you to consider appointing Joe Lee as deputy fire chief.’”
Later that night, the Chelsea City Council approved Lee as the city’s deputy fire chief. Shirley said, “We are blessed to have someone of his caliber helping lead our team of professionals as we continue to serve.”
Shirley went to the hospital the next day, July 8, and never came home.
“Even in his last duty, he put Chelsea first,” Picklesimer said. “It was a privilege to know him and serve with him.”
Even after being in the business for all of his adult life, Shirley still loved what he did. Tammy Wolfe, executive administrative assistant at Chelsea Fire and Rescue, worked closely with him for eight years. Not long after she started working at the station, she noticed a familiar look come across the chief’s face as the trucks were pulling out of the bay with their lights and sirens on heading to a call.
“He smiled and said, ‘I sure do love those big, red trucks,’” Wolfe said. “It then registered with me what the look on his face was, because I had seen it a thousand times on a thousand faces in my 14-year career in EMS: It was wonder. Chief Shirley had been in the business for all of his adult life, going on 30 years at the time, and he was still, like a child, stricken with wonder over those big, red trucks.”
Fire Marshal Capt. Tommy King said Shirley loved to operate his own Incident Command Center in his office when bad weather was predicted.
“He would watch the local news on the TV in his office, while also participating in the National Weather Service chat room on one computer, streaming another local weather channel on his laptop, and on his third computer he would have the location of weather sirens in Chelsea visible and ready to activate at anytime,” King said.
Another role Shirley had was serving as an adjunct instructor for the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa. Matt Russell, executive director at Alabama Fire College, had known Shirley since elementary school in Chelsea and said it was apparent from early on that he had a passion for emergency services.
“Wayne was kindhearted, compassionate and had a servant’s heart,” Russell said.” He was continually contemplating ways in which the Chelsea Fire Department could make a positive impact on their community. He was renowned for his knowledge of radio systems and was passionate about teaching in the Alabama Fire College’s Public Safety Telecommunicator program. His untimely departure has created a void in leadership in the Chelsea community as well as in the Telecommunicator program at the Alabama Fire College that will be difficult to fill. Our friend will be sorely missed.”
Shirley held state and national accreditation as a professional firefighter and a paramedic and had obtained dozens of certifications. He also maintained professional memberships with Alabama Association of Emergency Managers, Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, Alabama Fire Chiefs Association (Legislative Committee), Central Alabama Fire Chiefs Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Fire Academy – Alumni Association, Shelby County Fire and EMS Association, Shelby County Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Southeastern Association of Fire Chief’s (Membership Committee).
He also served as a contract instructor for the prestigious National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He was a Birmingham Regional Emergency Medical Services System (BREMSS) board member, served on the advisory committee for the Fire Science Degree Program and was a member of the advisory committee for the Emergency Medical Services Degree Program at Jefferson State Community College. He was also a board member of Shelby County 911 and served as a Peer Review Committee member for the SAFER Grant and Assistance to Firefighters Grant for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He received the R. Floyd Yarbrough Emergency Medical Services Innovations Award in 2007 and the Exceptional Community Service Award in 2008.
Shirley enjoyed watching college football, going on cruises, spending time at the lake, playing golf and especially his puppy Mollie May.
After Shirley’s passing Aug. 6, his father, Donald Shirley, passed away the next day due to COVID-19. He had been a volunteer fireman and also served in the Chelsea Citizens on Patrol (COP) program. His mother, Lynette, passed away in March.
His funeral was held at the Pelham Civic Complex on Aug. 14. The 45-minute service featured an opening by his nephew, Gregory Dawkins, who said his uncle loved God, Florida State and being a firefighter.
“Uncle Wayne was smart,” he said. “He worked for Jesus by working like Jesus. He lost his life on earth, but found his life with Jesus.”
Pelham Fire Chief Tim Honeycutt, also Shirley’s cousin and friend, said he was in his position because of Shirley.
“He never missed an opportunity to brag on members of the Chelsea Fire Department,” Honeycutt said. “When he was in the hospital, he told me to check on his guys and make sure they were OK. He put service before self, and we can bring honor to him by serving as he served.”
Members of Chelsea Fire and Rescue served as pallbearers and loaded the chief’s casket onto the Chelsea Fire truck for the drive down Alabama 119, down U.S. 280 to Shelby County 47, ending at the Liberty Baptist Church cemetery. Over 50 fire trucks and other emergency vehicles from various fire departments from Shelby County and beyond took part in the procession.
At the cemetery, after a brief message, the traditional bell ringing took place, which symbolized an end of emergency and the return to quarters. The last radio call also went out over the Chelsea Fire and Rescue radios. A dispatcher called to Shirley three times, and after a few moments of silence, acknowledged that was his last call. Flags were presented to Shirley’s sister, Deborah Dawkins, and his fiancée, Tina Jiles.
“This family has truly left a legacy of service to this city,” Picklesimer said.
