UPDATED: Passing of Stockton's Fire Chief

(WBOC)

According to Tim Jerscheid, the assistant chief for the Stockton Volunteer Fire Company, a funeral service for Chief Payne is scheduled for Saturday, October 22nd at 11:00 a.m. The service will be held at the Stockton Volunteer Fire Company, and is open to the public. 

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Stockton Community Remembers Longtime Fire Chief | Latest News | wboc.com

 (Stockton Volunteer Fire Company Facebook page)

It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that we announce the loss of our Fire Chief, Neil Payne, who answered his last alarm on 10/16/2022. Chief Payne has been serving in the Stockton Volunteer Fire Company since 1986, and has been Chief for the last 29 years. We thank Neil for his many years in the fire service both in Stockton and the greater Worcester County area. 

This is a sudden and tremendous loss to the Stockton community and the local firefighting community. Please keep the Payne family and the entire Stockton Volunteer Fire Company in your thoughts and prayers. 

Neil was a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a leader, a mentor, a neighbor and a friend. We will sorely miss his smile and his sense of humor. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time. 

Rest easy Chief, we will take it from here.