MaShawn Plummer, 30, died last month after fighting a fire on the city’s Northwest Side that also killed a civilian.
Family, friends, and colleagues in full uniform poured into the House of Hope church on the Far South Side. The funeral will be followed by a procession to Oak Woods Cemetery on 67th Street.
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“He certainly gave his life for the city and to help others and he will be missed both in his family and his community and all first responders are a little sad today,” said Kevin Graham, former FOP president.
A Chicagoan who grew up in Englewood, Plummer was also a college graduate who had studied pre-law but ultimately decided to join the fire department.
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His family said when he got that call, he was elated.
“It was the happiest day of all of our lives. It’s something he wanted. It’s something he strived for and it’s something nobody was going to take from him,” said his great uncle Willie McCline.
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Plummer collapsed while battling a fire in the Belmont-Central neighborhood back on December 16. He was in the basement of a building on North Mamora and was pulled out and rushed to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries just over two weeks ago. A building resident was also killed in the fire.
Plummer’s funeral includes ceremonial traditions of the Chicago Fire Department, reserved for those that died in the line of duty.
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Those that knew and loved him said Mashawn lived to serve others and he deserves this honor.
“Mashawn is a brilliant person. It’s such an unfortunate loss we are having today that we celebrate his life, but all of this attention, he is worth it every dime. It’s still not even enough,” said family friend Chonte McClain.
“He was just the person to love. It was that aura about him, you couldn’t help but love him,” said family friend Beverly Hudson.
Plumme leaves behind his parents, sisters, and large loving family. He was a member of the Engine 94 firehouse in the Portage Park neighborhood. He had just celebrated his first anniversary as a firefighter/EMT in December.
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