Johnny Littlefield, who had a 38-year career with the West Point Fire Department including the last 13 as its chief, has died.
He was 61.
Clay County Coroner Alvin Carter said Littlefield died early Wednesday morning of natural causes.
Littlefield was set to officially retire as the city’s fire chief at the end of the year. He had been using accrued vacation leave since May. He had been chief since 2001 and with the department since 1976.
Danny White, a battalion chief with WPFD, worked under Littlefield and said the former chief took his job and the welfare of his staff seriously, but had a good sense of humor and enjoyed community service.
“The chief was involved with a reading program at the school,” White said. “He had some kids he would mentor. He really thought a lot of children. He was a good chief. He took good care of his men. He had your back. He would stand up for you.”
White, who has been with the department for 20 years, said Littlefield also did his part to make sure the department had the best resources possible when responding to emergencies.
“He was very instrumental in acquiring a lot of new equipment for the department,” White said. “He was busy with securing grants and Homeland Security money. We got a lot of new good equipment under his reign.”
West Point Mayor Robbie Robinson said he grew up with Littlefield in Clay County, but it wasn’t until he was elected mayor that he saw how hard Littlefield worked to improve the quality of WPFD’s services.
“He was always witty and you couldn’t ever be around him and not smile and laugh,” Robinson said. “He always had a joke. When I became mayor I got to see on the inside what a loyal individual he was to his craft. He ran a great department. I would put it up there with any in Mississippi. He did a great job for the city of West Point.”
Robinson said there is no timetable on beginning the hiring process for a new fire chief.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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