Funeral services will be held Friday for a 14-year veteran of Hall County Fire Services who died unexpectedly this past Sunday.
Shaun Stringer, 43, was a fire apparatus operator (FAO) for the department. Stringer, a Gainesville native, joined the fire department in 2007 after serving in the United States Marine Corps.
Information on a GoFundMe page post for the firefighter's family said Stringer died as a result of complications from COVID-19. Hall County Fire Services declined comment on Stringer's cause of death.
The organizer of the fundraising effort, Lt. Jaime Aguilar with Hall County Fire Services, described Stringer as "an amazing person."
"He was the best friend/brother that anyone could ask for," Aguilar said in a statement on the fundraising account. "Shaun with his positive attitude and free spirit could put a smile on your face no matter the situation...With this passion for serving, Shaun selflessly exposed himself to the hazards of the job and contracted COVID-19. After a brief battle with the virus Shaun unfortunately passed from his complications."
The GoFundMe account had raised $3,650 toward a $50,00 goal at 3 p.m. Thursday. All proceeds will go to Stringer's wife and three children.
The funeral for Stringer has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20 at Memorial Park South Funeral Home in Flowery Branch. Interment will follow at Memorial Park South Cemetery.
