First report around 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, October 8, 2019- First responders from across Bladen County paid tribute to one of their own this morning. Fallen White Lake Firefighter known as Gray Thompson Williams Ramsey was escorted to Cape Fear Valley-Bladen County Hospital by a host of first responders after she fell from a roof.
Ms. Williams was a mother of two children as well.
Chuck Maynard, Medical Examiner confirmed Ms. Williams was pronounced dead this morning. He could not confirm what the cause of death was at the time of the report.
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Update from Bladen County Sheriff’s Office at 3:50 p.m. on October 8, 2019
Worker killed in Roofing Accident at White Lake
A 37 year old White Lake Firefighter, Mildred Gray Williams of 1346 White Lake Drive, White Lake, N. C., fell to her death this morning while working on the Bladen County Water Rescue Building with Young’s Construction of White Lake.
Young’s Construction was replacing metal roofing on the building when Williams fell approximatley 15 feet to her death. The call came into Bladen Central at approximatley 10:02 am.
Bladen County Emergency Medical Services, the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office and White Lake Police Department responded to the scene. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene by the Bladen County Medical Examiner Chuck Maynard.
“This is such a tragic event for our community, said Sheriff Jim McVicker. “Because this is a work related death, we are required to report this incident to the North Carolina Department of Labor for investigation which we have done”, said Sheriff Jim McVicker.
Williams was escorted to the Cape Fear Valley – Bladen County Hospital by first responders from the area. Out of respect for Williams, two ladder trucks formed an arch over Mercer Mill Road with the American flag hanging benneath for the processional to pass through enroute to the hospital.
“This is just a shock to the Emergency Services Community”, said Nathan Dowless, Emergency Services Director of Bladen County. “Gray was a firefighter and one of us. Its tough when its one of our own, but we will work through this together” said Dowless.
No information is available at this time about funeral services.
Update at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Bladen County Water Rescue Station 75 announced the funeral services for White Lake Fire Department and Bladen County Water Rescue Member Mildred Gray Williams will be at 3 p.m. Friday, October 11th at Colly Chapel Church.
The station added, “Please pray for Gray’s family, friends, and our department as we have lost a dear sister!”
Any departments wishing to attend with an apparatus is asked to report to Station 58 at 1:30 p.m.
Related video and article:
https://bladencounty.org/white-lake-town-council-meeting-canceled-for-tuesday-evening/
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