Presentation to occur during Board of Commissioners meeting

On May 19, Forsyth County will pay tribute to the three line-of-duty deaths the Fire Department has experienced since its inception. Roads renamed for fallen Firefighters Allyn Lane, Dennis C. Martin and Brant Chesney will be the focus of a presentation during the Thursday, May 19 meeting of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners.

Firefighters Allyn Lane and Dennis C. Martin

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners recently approved a resolution renaming two roads for Firefighters Allyn Lane and Dennis C. Martin, who fell in the line of duty, along with renaming two road segments for fallen deputies. The measure was approved unanimously at the board’s February 23, 2016 work session.

The resolution states that “every citizen of Forsyth County owes a debt of gratitude to the courageous men and women who fell while in service to this county and the Board of Commissioners sees fit to honor these individuals.”

Allyn Lane and Dennis C. Martin were both volunteer firefighters for Forsyth County who died in automobile accidents en route to their respective fire stations to respond to calls. Lane passed away in 1975 and Martin in 1984.

• The roadway leading into Shady Grove Campground has been designated as “Allyn Lane Memorial Way.”

• The roadway leading into Coal Mountain Park has been designated as “Dennis C. Martin Memorial Way.”

Firefighter Brant Chesney

Brant Chesney was a full-time firefighter with Gwinnett County and a volunteer firefighter for Forsyth County who died in the line of duty in 1996 while battling a structure fire in Forsyth County.

• Several years ago, the roadway along Forsyth County Fire Station 10 on Old Atlanta Road was designated as “Brant Chesney Way.”

A ceremonial dedication of all three roads will take place at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday, May 19. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. in Suite 220 of the Forsyth County Administration Building, located at 110 E. Main Street in Cumming. The public is invited to attend.

A dedication ceremony for the two road segments renamed for fallen deputies was held April 14.

• The segment of North Old Atlanta Road from Georgia State Route 9/Atlanta Highway to Ronald Reagan Boulevard was designated as “Deputy Bill Cantrell Memorial Road.”

• The segment of North Old Atlanta Road from Hutchinson Road to Georgia State Route 9/Atlanta Highway was designated as “Larry Mulkey Memorial Road.”