Brant Gammon receives full honors from brother and sister firefighters

The Palm Coast firefighter/paramedic died of brain cancer at 51.

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Hundreds of people filled Parkview Church on Saturday, Nov. 12, to celebrate the life of Brant Gammon, a Palm Coast firefighter and paramedic who died Nov. 3 of brain cancer.

After the funeral service, the Palm Coast Fire Department performed a full honors ceremony for Gammon.

"His time with us was way too short. His impact is everlasting," Department Chief Kyle Berryhill said at the honors ceremony.

Gammon died on Nov. 3, two days after his 51st birthday. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Josie, a Flagler County Sheriff's Office dispatcher; their grown children Noah, Grant and Grace; his parents; and two brothers.

"His time with us was way too short. His impact is everlasting."

— KYLE BERRYHILL, Palm Coast fire chief

Gammon joined the department in 2018 as a volunteer intern and was hired as a firefighter-EMT in 2020 after switching careers from IT. Shortly after completing Daytona State College's paramedic program in August, he was diagnosed with metastatic brain cancer and admitted to Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital in Jacksonville. He returned home on Sept. 26.

Other area fire departments covered for Palm Coast on the morning of Nov. 12 to allow the entire department to participate in the honors ceremony.

 Gammon's coffin was transported to and from the church in Fire Engine 25. The ceremony included bagpipers and drummers, a color guard, several fire engines, three sets of three ringing of the bells, a bugler playing Taps and Gammon's last call. 

The pallbearers were all crew members with Gammons. Two fire department cranes raised an oversized American flag in front the church. Department Chaplain Chris Cottle read the "Firefighter's Prayer." A helicopter flew over as bagpipers played "Amazing Grace."

Pastor Roger Huth, who married Brant and Josie, and Chief Berryhill delivered eulogies at Gammon's funeral service. Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin also spoke at the service.

Huth spoke about Gammon's hobby as a competitive barbecuer in which he teamed up with his brothers. Berryhill noted how he used his smoker to smoke 25 turkeys to distribute to needy families.

"Brant didn't want any credit," Berryhill said.

Berryhill said Gammon had a way of demonstrating the core values of a firefighter with a smile on his face and a glint in his eye.

"He demonstrated integrity in a fun way," Berryhill said. "Doing the right thing in a fun way makes it a lot more special."

Huth said when Gammon became a firefighter in 2018 he found his niche in life. 

Firefighters band together as brothers and sisters to protect their communities, Berryhill said. Gammon's family members will always be a part of the firefighters' family, he said, pledging "our unwavering support to always be with them."

 

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