WMFD leads ‘sea of red’ for fallen paramedic

First responders carry fallen brother from Memphis back home to Jonesboro

By DONALD WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

First responders, friends and family from all over northeastern Arkansas were overcome with grief and sadness as they made the somber journey from Memphis to bring the body of their fallen brother, Paramedic Mark Gibson, back home to Jonesboro this past Sunday. The 56-year-old paramedic tragically lost his life on Friday when a car collided head-on with the

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Mark and Cheri Gibson served West Memphis and northeast Arkansas for nearly three decades.

Credit: WMFD

The procession, led by the WMFD, had nearly 100 emergency vehicles carrying Mark Gibson from Memphis to Jonesboro.

Photo by Don Wilburn PARAMEDIC

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ambulance being driven by his wife, Cheri, who is still currently in the hospital due to injuries sustained in the crash.

The couple, who dedicated their lives to serving the people of Northeast Arkansas, were transporting a patient when the devastating crash occurred. Mark Gibson, originally from Manila, had spent over three decades working in emergency services, including 28 years with the West Memphis Fire Department.

“His presence and dedication will be deeply missed by all who knew him.” said one _re_ghter for the WMFD, “He trained many of us. Most of us. He was, without exaggeration, a legend.”

In a touching display of respect for his years of service, the West Memphis Fire Department led a procession known as a “sea of red” with nearly 100 emergency vehicles from all over northeast Arkansas escorting Gibson’s body from Memphis to Emerson Funeral Home in Jonesboro. Departments from all over the region and numerous community members came out to pay their respects and honor his memory, many lining the streets as the somber procession passed.

“Mark served the citizens of West Memphis for over 28 years, from October 16, 1990, until February 1, 2019. After his leave from WMFD, Mark and his wife Cheri could always be found together as a crew with Emerson Ambulance. Keep Cheri in your thoughts and prayers as she recovers from her serious injuries and begins her path of healing, the Gibson extended family as they work through their grief, and the family of the other victims of today’s tragedy as they, too, process their grief.”, the West Memphis Fire Department said in a statement.

Despite the heavy loss, Mark Gibson’s impact and legacy will undoubtedly live on in the hearts of those he touched. Visitation for Gibson will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at Emerson Funeral Home, with funeral services taking place the following day at Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro at 10a.m.

The Arkansas State Police released a preliminary report on the fatal crash, revealing that the collision was caused when 67-year-old Janet Chapman’s car veered into oncoming traf_c, striking the ambulance head-on. Chapman and Mark Gibson tragically lost their lives in the accident, while Cheri Gibson and the ambulance’s passenger, Phyllis Moore, sustained injuries.

Emerson Ambulance Service, where both Gibsons were employed, con_rmed their involvement in the crash and asked for the community’s thoughts and prayers during this dif_cult time. The loss of Mark Gibson has left a void in the hearts of those who knew and worked with him, and the entire community mourns the loss of a dedicated paramedic and beloved member of the emergency services family.