Tiffany Farrow/The Valdosta Daily Times Lt. Ashley Tye of the Valdosta Fire Department, right, presents Lt. James Exum, left, Sgt. Ricky Register, center, and Sgt. Danny Blackmon with pocket watches Thursday for their service of over 30 years as firefighters for the Valdosta Fire Department. A dinner and ceremony honoring the firefighters were held at the Fire Department and attended by several firefighters and friends.

VALDOSTA — Many have heard the idea that firefighters become family. This seems to be true as Valdosta firefighters recently held a retirement dinner to honor the service of three of their very own.

Lt. James Exum, Sgt. Danny Blackmon and Sgt. Jerome Register have each served the department for more than 30 years with more than 100 years of combined service.

All three firefighters have spent their entire careers serving the city of Valdosta, and Chief J.D. Rice stated that they will be missed.

“Guys like that will definitely be missed in the department,” Rice said.

“That much experience leaving at one time will leave a void that will definitely be hard to fill.”

Families of the retirees were invited to attend the dinner, which was held at Fire Station 1 in an effort to send the men off in good fashion, Rice stated.

Exum and Blackmon have already served their final shifts. Register will officially leave the department at the end of December.