WS Chronicle

In photo: The Voices of Galilee Praise Team of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church sings during the third annual Public Safety Black History Month Celebration. The celebration was held at Galilee on Feb. 21. Seated are Assistant Fire Chief Frank Stowe, left, and Fire Chief William Mayo. (All photos are by Donna Rogers)

Chronicle Staff Report

The following biographies came from the printed program for the third annual Public Safety Black History Month Celebration. The celebration was held at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church On Sunday, Feb. 21.

Retired Fire Captain Gary A. Brown

Gary Brown is a native of Winston-Salem. He is a 1974 graduate of North Forsyth High School, and attended Winston-Salem State University and Forsyth Technical Institute. He served six years active duty and 16 years reserve in the United States Army.

Assistant Fire Chief Tad Byrum, right, gave retired Fire Captain Gary A. Brown his award from the Fire Department on Feb. 21 during the Black History Month program.

Brown joined the Winston-Salem Fire Department in July 1985, after some firefighter friends persuaded him to apply. His service with the fire department was interrupted December 1990-April 1991 when he was deployed in Operation Desert Storm.

Brown was promoted to Fire Engineer in February 1992. In December 1995, Brown was deployed to serve in Operation Joint Endeavor, returning in November 1996. After his return, Brown retired from the U.S. Army with 22 years of service as a Sergeant First Class.

Brown was promoted to Fire Captain in October 1999. Brown retired from the Winston-Salem Fire Department in December 2014 with 29½ years of dedicated service.

Brown was involved in several extraordinary fires during his career, such as the Burke Street fire and the South Side Tire Fire. But he says that the 911 dispatch medical call that hit home was when his pregnant wife was the one in need of service. He says that it was this call that continued to give him the drive and determination to serve in this capacity with the Winston-Salem Fire Department.

Brown has been married to the love of his life, Carolyn Brown, for 24 years. They have two sons, Antwon and Quinton Brown and a daughter, Jordan Brown. They also have three grandchildren, Jamise, Quinton Jr. and Caleigh Brown. The Browns attend Greater Cleveland Avenue Christian Church.

Retired Fire Captain Aldine R. Cloud

Aldine R. Cloud is a native of Winston- Salem and a 1968 graduate of Atkins High School. He received an Associate of Arts degree in Mathematics from Southwestern Christian College in 1970.

Assistant Fire Chief Harry Brown, left, gives retired Fire Captain Aldine R. Cloud his award from the Fire Department on Feb. 21 during the Black History Month program.

Cloud joined the Winston-Salem fire Department in November 1980. He was inspired as a youth after a visit to Fire Station No. 4 with his father, who was meeting with firefighters about a Little League Baseball team. He had the opportunity to meet and talk with the city’s first black firefighters, who kept in contact with him over the years. Through their example, he remained hopeful that he, too, would be able to serve in the community and be an example to other young men.

Cloud was promoted to the rank of Fire Engineer in 1991, then to Fire Captain in 1996. Cloud retired from the Fire Department on January 1, 2011, after 30 years of dedicated service.

Cloud’s history in firefighting included numerous fire and rescue efforts. The most memorable one was rescuing a family early one morning after getting off duty. He spotted flames coming from a house and immediately leapt into action. He received citation from Fire Chief Lester Ervin for his quick actions in alerting and assisting occupants to safety from a house fire.

Cloud is married to Betty Cloud and they have a son Adrian and daughter- in- law Shauntay. They are grandparents to Adrianna and Lauren Cloud. The Clouds are members of South Fork Church of Christ.

Fire Battalion Chief Shirese Moore

Shirese Moore was promoted to Battalion Chief in November 2015, being the first African- American female to hold this position in the Winston-Salem Fire Department.

Fire Chief William Mayo, left, gives Fire Battalion Chief Shirese Moore her award from the Fire Department on Feb. 21 during the Black History Month program.

Moore was born and raised in Winston-Salem, and came to the Fire Department in January 1999 after working as a medical secretary for more than 10 years. She decided to “try” firefighting after helping a friend with physical training in preparation for the department’s agility test.

Moore liked the challenges of firefighting, and that each day’s work was different from the last. But mainly it’s the rewarding feeling she gets from helping others that has kept her in the profession.

Moore worked her way through the ranks. She was promoted to engineer in December 2003 then to Captain in March 2006. She was the department’s first African-American female to hold this position as well. She was initially assigned to Fire Station No. 1 after completing Recruit Class. She has since been assigned to stations No. 13, No. 3, No. 12 and No. 16. As a battalion chief, she’s currently assigned to District 3, covering the northeastern part of the city.

Moore feels very humbled to be the first African-American female to hold this position. She states, “This accomplishment has such an impact not just because this is a traditionally white, male dominated profession, but also because only one other female in the Winston-Salem Fire Department’s 103- year history has held this position. Now that is unbelievable to me. “

Moore appreciates that she is in a position where her voice and ideas can be heard, and she impacts the growth of the department. She wants to be instrumental in helping other minorities hold higher level positions and to become officers in some of the department’s specialty areas, such as hazardous material, rescue and truck companies. She hopes to leave a legacy that through hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.

Retired Police Sergeant Stephen Hairston

Stephen A. Hairston is a lifetime resident of Winston-Salem. He graduated from East Forsyth High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education and accounting from Winston-Salem State University. Hairston has a Master of Business Administration degree from Appalachian State University.

Assistant Police Chief Wilson Weaver, left, gives retired Police Sergeant Stephen Hairston
his award from the Police Department on Feb. 21 during the Black History Month program.

In March 1980, he was employed by the Winston-Salem Police Department as a police officer. He completed training and received an advance law enforcement certificate in 1988. Hairston received a certified law instructor certificate in 1988.

Hairston was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1990 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2000. In 1993, he received the City of Winston-Salem Public Safety Officer of the year award and the Winston-Salem Chronicle Public Safety Officer of the Year award.

In 2007, he returned to the police department, working as a background investigator in the recruiting unit. He is very active in this church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where he serves as a senior usher and trustee. His is married to Iona Hairston and has three children.

Retired Police Captain Terry R. Jones

Terry R. Jones was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. He graduated from Ben L. Smith High school in 1978 and then attended Guilford College until 1981. Jones has been a proud resident of Winston Salem since being hired as a Public Safety Officer Trainee on September 16, 1981.

Assistant Police Chief Scott Bricker, left, gives retired Police Captain Terry R. Jones his award from the Police Department on Feb. 21 during the Black History Month program.

Jones graduated with BLET Class 13 in April 1982 and was assigned to the Field Services Bureau, Patrol South Division, Squad 3. Jones was transferred to the Investigative Services Bureau, Special Investigations Division, Narcotics Unit in September 1987, where he worked as a Detective in the Vice and Narcotics Unit. Jones was promoted to Sergeant in July 1990 and assigned the Field Services Bureau/Patrol/400 Sector, Squad 5 as a field supervisor. He was assigned to the Special Operations Division, Parking Enforcement Unit in November 1991, and then transferred to the Office of the Chief, Internal Affairs/ Inspections Division, Internal Affairs Unit as an investigator in December 1991.

Jones was promoted to Lieutenant to December 1992 and assigned to Field Services Bureau, Patrol Division, 100/200 Sectors as the Field Commander for Squads 1, 2 and Foot Patrol-A. In May 1998, he transferred to the Investigative Services Bureau, Investigative Support Division, where he served as Division Commander. Jones was promoted to Captain in November 1999 and assigned to Field Services Bureau as 100 Sector Commander. In March 2003, Jones transferred to the Support Services Bureau, Operations Support Division, where he served as Division Commander until he retired on June 1, 2012.

In November 1994, Jones graduated from the 12th Administrative Officer’s Management Program (AOMP) at North Carolina State University, where is he served as Class Vice President. He also successfully completed the 1^st AOMP Mid-Management 2000 Program at North Carolina State University in 2000. Jones has earned the Advanced Professional Law Enforcement Certificate awarded by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education Training and Standards Commission.

Jones is a Lifetime Member of the North State Law Enforcement Officers Association and remains active in the affairs of the Association. He served the Association with pride as State Secretary for six years as well as Chapter President and Chapter Treasurer at various times throughout his career.

Jones was honored as the North State Law Enforcement Officers Association Officer of the Year for 1995 and the Winston-Salem State University Center for Community Safety recipient of the 2003 Community Safety Law Enforcement Leadership Award.

Jones remains active as a community volunteer and a mentor to current law enforcement professionals across the United States. He cherishes family time with his two wonderful children, parents and siblings.

Retired Senior Police Records Specialist Margaret L. Epps

Margret Epps is a native of Winston-Salem. She attended the Winston-Salem Forsyth County public schools and graduated from Atkins High School in 1957.

Assistant Police Chief Catrina A. Thompson, left, gives retired Senior Police Records Specialist Margaret L. Epps her award from the Police Department on Feb. 21 during the Black History Month program.

Epps attended and graduated from Russell Business College in 1958. She also studied business courses at Winston-Salem Teachers College, now known as Winston-Salem State University. She also studied business courses at Winston-Salem Business College, which was later named Winslam Business College.

In 1971, Epps was employed by the Winston-Salem Police Department Records Division. She was the first and only African-American for the first four years in her employment with the records division.

In 1978, Epps was promoted to Senior Police Records Specialist. Again, she was the first African-American to hold a supervisory position in records. Epps held this position until retirement in 1998 after working for 27 years. Epps was rehired one week after her retirement as a part-time records specialist. She worked four more years before permanently retiring. Epps worked in security at Winston-Tower for four years.

Epps is presently volunteering at Forsyth Medical Center in the emergency room. In her spare time, she works out at the Winston Family YMCA and runs two to three days a week with the Black Girls Run organization.

Epps is a devoted member of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the Rev. D.L Hash Sr. Epps is the proud parent of Natasha Lytle and Christopher Evans.