Forsyth County To Honor Fallen Firefighters

CUMMING, GA -- Forsyth County is planning a ceremony to pay tribute to three firefighters who have, over the years, died in the line of duty.

County roads renamed for Allyn Lane, Dennic C. Martin and Brant Chensney will be the focus of a presentation during the meeting of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners on Thursday, May 19.

Commissioners recently approved a resolution naming two roads for Lane and Martin, volunteer firefighters who were killed in automobile accidents en route to their respective fire stations to respond to calls.

Lane died in 1975 and Martin in 1984.

The resolution states that "every citizen of Forsyth County owes a debt of gratitude to the courageous men and women who fell while in service to this county and the Board of Commissioners sees fit to honor these individuals."

The measure was approved unanimously at the board’s February 23 work session.

It names the roadway leading into Shady Grove Campground "Allyn Lane Memorial Way" and the roadway leading into Coal Mountain Park as "Dennis C. Martin Memorial Way."

Chesney was a full-time firefighter with Gwinnett County and a volunteer firefighter with Forsyth County who died in 1996 while battling a structure fire in Forsyth.

Several years ago, the road along Forsyth County Fire Station No. 10, on Old Atlanta Road, was designated "Brant Chesney Way."

A ceremonial dedication of all three roads will take place at the meeting on the 19th.

It will begin at 5 p.m. in Suite 220 of the Forsyth County Administration Building in Cumming.

Similarly, the county named two stretches of road for sheriff's deputies who fell in the line of duty recently.

On April 14, the segment of North Old Atlanta Road from Ga. 9 to Ronald Reagan Boulevard was designated "Deputy Bill Cantrell Memorial Road" and the segment of North Old Atlanta Road from Hutchinson Road to Ga. 9 was designated "Larry Mulkey Memorial Road."