A longtime Onslow County firefighter died while responding to an emergency call.
Johnny Goines, a 69-year-old volunteer with the Verona Volunteer Fire Department, died late Friday night shortly after responding to a motor vehicle accident near High Hill Road and Verona Road. Emergency crews found Goines unresponsive at a second call involving a vehicle in a ditch.
Goines served the Verona community for nearly 50 years, beginning his work with the department in 1975. Known for his dedication and kindness, Goines was celebrated for supporting fire department fundraisers and helping elderly residents with their landscaping needs free of charge.
“Johnny was dedicated to his fire department and to the Verona community. He was always quick to lend a hand and he brought a sense of joy and comradery to our department that will be sorely missed. He operated a landscaping business and even took care of some of our elderly residents’ yards for free because that’s the kind of guy he was.” Verona Chief Toby Thomas said in a statement on Facebook.
Services for Goines will take place at Verona Baptist Church on November 27, with visitation at 1 p.m. and a funeral at 2 p.m. A procession led by fire engines will escort Goines through the Verona community before his burial at Onslow Memorial Park.
For more details, visit WNCT TV.