All in the Family

Creating a Legacy and Serving the Community

Strong Ties to Fire and Emergency Services Connect the Townsend Family

Each year, the third Sunday in June is dedicated to showing love for our dads. There are countless ways to celebrate and make them feel special. But can you think of a better way to honor your father than following in his footsteps? Meet the Townsends — Woodstock residents — whose family includes five current, retired and in-training firefighters, spanning three generations. This line of firemen begins with Jimmy Townsend, who started working for Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services in 1968. His sons, Freddie and Scott followed suit, and both retired from Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services within the past four years. Freddie’s 20-year-old twin sons, Hayden and Hunter, are continuing the tradition. Hayden worked his first shift March 6, and Hunter began his 10-month training program with Cherokee County in April.

Creating a Legacy and Serving the Community

Jimmy

“I was a Cobb County firefighter, and I retired in 1999. I worked for 31 years, and the most memorable experiences were when I was able to save lives and help those in need.

“I actually originally applied for the police department, but there were no openings at the time. So the county manager told me about some job openings in the fire department, which I decided to take. When an opening came for the police department, I was called, but I told them that I actually liked it a lot more on the fire side.

“It makes me extremely proud to have watched my sons and, now, grandsons serve their community.”

Freddie

“I retired from Cherokee County as a captain in April 2018. I am currently driving a bus for Cobb County Senior Services.

“I worked 30 years, and over those 30 years, there are many memorable experiences, such as training for fire suppressions, auto extrications and emergency medical training. I got to help teach fire safety at the elementary schools in the county, and having parents stop by the station to let their children see where we work and live for a third of our lives [is memorable].

“It means a lot to serve our community. But when you grow up around the fire station visiting your dad and being able to sit in the fire engine, that probably was the main reason that got me interested in the fire service.”

Scott

“I was a sergeant paramedic, and I retired from Cherokee County in 2020. I currently work for the city of Woodstock as a code enforcement officer.

“I worked for 25 years at Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services. My best memories involved any time I was able to assist someone in their time of need.

“I am proud that several family members have served their community selflessly, and I am honored that I was able to continue this legacy.”

Hayden

“I graduated from Cherokee County Recruit School in March and am now in the field. It’s going great so far; I really enjoy it.

“The main reason I decided to go into fire and emergency services is because I grew up around it, and hearing all of the stories really influenced me. My goal is to serve my community and have a long and successful career.”

Hunter

“Training is hard work, but also a lot of fun. I’m excited to keep progressing and eventually graduate. I want to be able to help everyone I possibly can and make an impact in the fire department and community.

“[Strong family ties] greatly influenced my decision to join. I grew up hanging out at the fire station, listening to stories, which made me realize that I wanted to be a part of that.”