Savannah Volunteer Fire Department

11/18/2021

01/06/2021

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation extends our sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Chief Darrell Woodard of the Savannah Volunteer Fire Department (NC). Chief Woodard died on December 29, 2020 after being exposed to COVID-19.

U.S. Fire Administration fatality announcement: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/fatalityData/detail?fatalityId=5003

Photo Credit: Savannah Volunteer Fire Department

(Note: Please see NFFF Facebook post from 1/4 for information on inclusion on the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.)

01/03/2021

Darrell Wayne Woodard, 66, of Sylva, went home to be with the Lord. Tuesday December 29, 2020. A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was the s...

01/03/2021

Procession is coming through Dillsboro now.

01/03/2021

Funeral Procession for Chief Woodard will be leaving Appalachian Funeral Home now traveling to Victory Baptist Church. The procession will travel 441 South through the Savannah Community for those wishing to pay their respects.

01/03/2021

The funeral services for Chief Darrell Woodard will be streamed from Victory Baptist Church around 3 PM this afternoon. The link is below:

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01/01/2021

Darrell Wayne Woodard, 66, of Sylva, went home to be with the Lord. Tuesday December 29, 2020. A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was the son of the late Alonzo and Cecile Woodard. A Member of Victory Baptist Church and former Member of Zion Hill Baptist Church, Darrell was the Chi...

12/31/2020

Woodard succumbs to COVID-19

Jackson County’s first responder community, and the community at large, was in mourning Wednesday morning following the news that beloved Savannah Volunteer Fire Department Chief Darrell Woodard, 65, passed away Tuesday night after an extended battle with COVID-19.

The SVFD was organized in 1978. Woodard was with the department since the beginning. He was a driving force behind the department’s famed ramp dinner fundraisers that ran from 1979 until 2003. The final event saw the department serve more than 2,500 plates.

“That was his passion,” said Ronnie Buchanan, who served with Woodard. He held the position of chief for more for nearly four decades. Buchanan also hailed the passion Woodard had for the SVFD.

“He was like a brother, or dad, to all of us. He was a worker, a special man, kind, would do anything for anybody who asked him.

“He knew all the ins and outs of the department, and we’re going to have to really sit down and see what he doing and how to pick up and go on. That’s what he’d want us to do.”

“Darrell was always for his community to help his fellow man,” Jackson County Emergency Services Director Todd Dillard said. “You could call Darrell any time of the night, day, whenever and he was always there to help. He will be greatly missed, not only by the Savannah community and fire department, but by the whole county. He worked so well with all the other chiefs and emergency services. He was a great man.”

12/31/2020

Franklin, NC (FOX Carolina) - A community in North Carolina is mourning the passing of a beloved fire chief.