Former Hamilton Fire Chief John Scott Jr. laid to rest after tragic accident

HAMILTON, N.C. (WITN) - A former long-time fire chief in Hamilton was laid to rest Friday after dying over the weekend.

A crowd of heartbroken family and friends gathered in Hamilton to remember John Scott Jr.

Scott was the fire chief in Hamilton for 27 years before retiring.

Brian Thomas is one of the firefighters who unloaded his casket from the fire truck. He said it will take a while for his death to feel real.

“It’s very disheartening. It’s sad, and it’s going to take a long time, not just for the family, but for the community to try to come to grips with it,” Thomas said.

Scott died Sunday at the UNC Burn Center after what his family says was a tragic accident at his home Saturday. He was 82 years old.

His family says Scott’s roots in the fire station run deep. They say his father helped found the department, and his family still volunteers there to this day.

His nephew, Travis Scott, is one of those family members. He was in the fire department while his uncle was chief, and eventually became chief after his uncle stepped down.

Scott says the family has always been drawn to it.

“It’s a family thing. It’s just a small community, and our family has always wanted to help people with fire and EMS. It was imprinted on us, like that’s what we’re going to do,” Travis Scott said.

Scott’s funeral began at the Biggs Funeral Home in Williamston before his casket was brought to the Hamilton Cemetery.

His daughter, Jennifer Bonds, wants him to be remembered for his passion for helping others.

“I want everybody to know that he loved his Hamilton family and community. He was very involved in it, and that’s how we want him to be remembered,” Bonds said.

Fighting fires wasn’t Scott’s only passion. Those who knew him well said he also loved fishing, hunting, and working on vehicles.