09/03/2026
REMEMBERING DONNIE FULBRIGHT — “501”
It is with a heavy heart to anounce the passing of Chief Donnie Fulbright of the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department.
Donnie dedicated an incredible 46 years of his life to the fire service. Forty-six years of answering the call. Forty-six years of standing beside his brothers and sisters. Forty-six years of serving his community and helping people on some of their worst days.
Donnie was also one of the founding fathers of the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department. He was there in the beginning, helping build a department that would go on to serve generations of people in the community. His fingerprints are part of its history, and his legacy will forever be a part of the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department.
But Donnie's legacy extends far beyond the fire station.
He was a great husband, a loving father, and a role model to so many. He understood that being a good man wasn't just about what you did when the tones dropped—it was about how you lived your life every day, how you treated people, and the example you set for those around you.
To his family, he was much more than “501.” He was a husband, a father, a friend, and someone they could be proud of. To the firefighters who knew him, he was someone who helped show what dedication, service, and commitment truly meant.
The fire service is more than a job or an organization. It is a brotherhood built on trust, sacrifice, courage, and service. Donnie understood that. He lived it for 46 years.
But if there is one thing many of us will always remember about Donnie, (i know i will) it was his stories.
Donnie was well known for telling some amazing stories. Whether they were stories from years gone by, calls he had been on, people he had met, or just one of those stories that somehow seemed to get better every time you heard it—Donnie had a way of telling them that kept you listening.
You could sit down with Donnie thinking you were only going to visit for a few minutes, and before you knew it, you were still sitting there listening to another story. And honestly, those are the moments we will miss the most.
Those stories were more than just entertainment. They were pieces of fire service history, told by a man who had spent nearly 50 years living it. Through those stories, Donnie passed along experiences, lessons, laughter, and memories that will continue to live on in those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Donnie leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured simply by the number of years he served. It can be measured by the department he helped build, the firefighters he worked beside, the family he loved, the people he helped, the lives he touched, the example he set, and the stories he left behind.
You answered the call for 46 years.
You helped build a fire department from the ground up.
You served your community.
You loved your family.
You were a role model to many.
You made a difference.
And you left us with stories we'll never forget.
Rest in Peace, Donnie Fulbright — 501.
Your legacy will live on.
You will never be forgotten.
