JOEL TURNER
The Franklin News Post
Reprinted with Permission

Hundreds of family members, firefighters, friends, state and local officials, Rocky Mount and Franklin County residents and others are expected to pay their last respects today to Posey Dillon and William "Danny" Altice, who were killed in a traffic accident Monday.


Funerals and burials will be held today for Dillon and Altice, longtime Rocky Mount volunteer firefighters who died when their fire truck rolled over several times in the accident.

Town officials have made plans to accommodate large crowds that are expected for the funerals for the two fallen firefighters.

There were reports that fire departments from throughout Virginia and cities in other states will send members for the funerals of Dillon and Altice.

Rocky Mount police are warning residents and businesses that traffic is likely to be heavy and some driveways might be blocked.

The town has put into place traffic management plans, with additional police officers on duty, to handle the large crowds that are expected, Town Manager James Ervin said.

Color and honor guards are also planned to honor the dead firefighters.

Richard Shively of Shively Electrical Company planned to hang red ribbons on the town's street light fixtures at his expense as a tribute to Dillon and Altice, according to a town official.

Working with the town, the Virginia Department of Transportation plan several road closures to handle funeral traffic on Virginia 40, U.S. 220 and Virginia 718 (Colonial Turnpike) in Glade Hill.

On Thursday, when the visitation was held for Dillon and Altice, North and South Main Street in Rocky Mount was closed to through traffic from 3 to 11 p.m. between Grassy Hill Road and State Street.

VDOT said that congestion and slow-moving traffic are anticipated today in the Rocky Mount area. Motorists are urged to use caution and expect delays.

Firefighters from Glade Hill and other Franklin County fire stations will help park cars at today's funerals.

While Rocky Mount and Franklin County firefighters attend the funerals today, firefighters from several fire departments in nearby localities will bring their fire trucks and staff Franklin County's fire stations.

The funeral for Dillon will be held at Franklin Heights Baptist Church at 11 a.m. with Rev. David Long and pastor Eddie Hawks officiating.

Dillon will be buried in the Hutchinson family cemetery at Glade Hill Baptist Church, where he was a member.

Dillon's family chose Franklin Heights Baptist for his funeral because it is the largest church in Franklin County and seats about 1,300.

The funeral for Altice will be held at Rocky Mount United Methodist Church at 3 p.m. with Rev. John Plummer and Chaplain Richard Gore officiating. Altice will be buried in Franklin Memorial Park.

The Methodist church seats about 300. Church officials said they may hook up speakers for people who can't get into the church.

Visitation was held Thursday afternoon and evening for both Dillon and Altice at the Rocky Mount Fire Department on North Main Street.

Rocky Mount police asked businesses in the North Main Street area to have patience for the visitation because their businesses could be affected.

Dillon, who was Rocky Mount's fire chief for 20 years, was a member of the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department for 33 years.

Dillon served on town council for 24 years, including 10 years as vice mayor. He served on council from 1980 to 2000, and from 2006 to 2010. He was vice mayor from 1992 to 2000, and from 2008 to 2010.

Altice was a member of the fire department for 47 years, joining the department when he was 20 years old. He served as fire chief from 1977 to 1984.

Altice was awarded the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Service Recognition Award by Rocky Mount Town Council.

Altice's father, William Oliver "W.O." Altice, was a longtime member of Rocky Mount Fire Department, as well as his brother, Barry Altice, who has been a member since 1975. His son, William Carey Altice, is a member of Boones Mill Fire Department.

Expressions of grief and sympathy for the Dillon and Altice families have come from hundreds of residents and scores of fire departments across Virginia and the nation, as well as Rocky Mount and Franklin County.

Fire departments in New York, Massachusetts, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana and North Carolina have sent messages to the fallen firefighters on online guestbooks.

Here are just a few of the messages:

"Our sincere condolences in this time of sadness and loss," said Chief Terry Pennington of the Jolly, Texas, Fire Department.

"The fire service is one of a special calling. Rest in peace, brother," Selden Fire District, Long Island, New York.

"My thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort," said Retired Fire Chief Richard Gaj, Granby, Massachusetts.

"My sympathy to the family and fire department for their loss," BobﾠEbert of the Whitelaw, Wisconsin, Fire Department.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Danny and Posey and the community of Rocky Mount," wrote the Virginia's Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

The agency said that it was "deeply saddened by this loss in our ranks. May God continue to provide assistance and support."

There were also messages of sympathy from dozens of fire departments in Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and other states.

There were also online messages from individuals from across the nation, including some people who used to live in Rocky Mount and Franklin County.

The messages included these:

"Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. I remember the first time I met Posey when we pastored Glade Hill Baptist Church. What a fine Christian man stood before us. Ann, (Dillon's wife), you are in my grieving heart and prayers. May our Lord hold and comfort your heart and entire being," wrote Elaine Wilson of Kodak, Tennessee.

"My thoughts and prayers are with you Ann and your family during this time of sorrow," wrote Carolyn Hall Buchanan of Lakeland, Florida.