Woodstock, GA (September 13, 2024) – The City of Woodstock posthumously presented retired Firefighter David Gray with the Tessa Basford Award in recognition of his steadfast demonstration of service before self at the September 9th Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council. Gray was scheduled to receive the award in person at Monday’s meeting, but he passed away on Sunday, September 8th after a 33-month battle with cancer.
Gray, known affectionately by his coworkers as Dega Dave, joined the Woodstock Fire Department in 2005. He began his career as a firefighter with the City of Morrow four years earlier.
At Monday’s Council Meeting, Mayor Michael Caldwell was joined by Fire Chief Shane Dobson and Deputy Fire Chief Jimmy Eley as he read a proclamation presenting the award to the chiefs to get safely to the Gray family. The mayor expressed the gratitude of the city and Woodstock City Council saying it was an honor to have been the professional home of Firefighter Gray.
“I hope that, were I ever to face a similar situation, I could rise to the moment the way that David Gray did,” said Mayor Michael Caldwell. “Just a spectacular human being who left every room he was in brighter, he was a spectacular example of not just sharing joy but pointing to God in the midst of all of it.” Mayor Caldwell concluded his remarks with a moment of silence in the Council Chambers as a tribute to David Gray and in honor of his family.
Funeral Services for David Gray will be held on Friday, September 13th at 1 pm at His Hands Church. A procession with public safety employees and apparatus will take place from the church to Lakeside Funeral Home. All are welcome to participate in the procession. A final farewell for immediate family only will take place following the procession.
In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in honor of Gray to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Using the email address degadavetributes@gmail.com ensures the family receives acknowledgement of the donation in David’s memory.
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About City of Woodstock, GA: Located just 30 miles north of Atlanta, Woodstock’s City limits include more than 12 square miles and over 35,000 residents. Woodstock is a Georgia PlanFirst Community and a recipient of Georgia Municipal Association’s Live Work Play City Award.
