Hamden’s Carter Gets Mother’s Day Surprise On ‘Good Morning America’

HAMDEN, CT — Hamden Assistant Fire Chief Shelly Carter received the surprise of a lifetime when she was honored on “Good Morning America’s” 25th Anniversary Mother’s Day show on live national TV on Friday morning.

Carter, who thought she was preparing for a meeting, was greeted by GMA’s Janai Norman, who told her that she was live on “Good Morning America.” Cater’s sister, Renee Sermons, was brought in and Carter was escorted into a roomful of supporters, including family, friends, fellow firefighters, and officials, who were chanting “Shelly” and holding signs that said “We Love Shelly.”

Carter, a mother of four, was hired as Hamden’s assistant fire chief earlier this year.

“All of these people, they know why you are such a deserving mom, but we want America to see,” Norman said.

Norman then played a video that highlighted Carter becoming the first Black fire chief in New England.

“Who would have ever thought a girl from the projects would rise to that level,” Sermons said in the video.

But over her more than 25-year climb to the top, family has always come first to Carter, Norman narrated in the video.

“I know she’s delivered babies, she’s jumped out of burning buildings, and she’s still a wife and mom,” Sermons said.

Along with her four biological children, Carter invited two exchange students into her family, who she calls her children, and they call her mom.

Carter, who was once told by someone close to her that she couldn’t become a firefighter because it was a man’s job and nobody would hire her, now mentors future firefighters through her free Girls Future Fire Camp.

Sermons nominated Carter for the 25th Anniversary of Good Morning America’s “Breakfast in Bed” Mother’s Day segment.

“My sister is so phenomenal, not only to our family, to the fire community, to her girls’ camp, and I wanted the world to know that regardless of any obstacle, Shelly never stopped taking the dare,” Sermons told Norman about why she nominated Carter. “They dared you, and you kept pursuing, so I wanted the world to know as you pursue your career, you empower women in the fire service, and in our family, so whatever you do, never stop taking the dare.”

As part of the “Good Morning America” celebration, the Hamden Fire Department received “a very generous donation of much needed safety equipment and the Girl's Future Firefighters Camp received a generous donation too!” Mayor Lauren Garrett wrote in a post on Facebook.

Watch the video of Carter’s surprise at the “Good Morning America” website here.