Michael Strobridge, 67

Chief Michael Strobridge, age 67, of Swainsboro, passed away Saturday, January 4, 2025, at WellStar Medical College of Georgia. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 11, at 11 a.m. in the Swainsboro City Auditorium with Reverend Melvin Adams officiating. Interment will follow at the Swainsboro City Cemetery with full firefighter’s honors. Family will receive friends Friday, January 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Chapman Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be the Swainsboro Fire Department and Dublin Fire Department Honor Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be Emanuel County Rural Fire, Swainsboro Police Department and Emanuel County Public Safety.

Mike was born December 3, 1957, in Swainsboro, to the late Napoleon Strobridge and Daisy Love Jones Strobridge. He was a Swainsboro High School graduate. Mike was not your typical teenager. At the age of 14, he spent countless hours at the fire department which was located at the back of the old City Hall on the boneyard. Mike later attended Gupton Jones Mortuary school in Atlanta. After graduation, he returned home where he picked up his passion for serving the community. Mike became the first African American firefighter in Emanuel County and one of the first EMTs. He would leave one public service job and go to the next for many years. Mike would always say “Paramedics save lives and EMTs save Paramedics.”

In 2003, Mike became “Chief Strobridge”. He always had a plan to make things better, and was able to reduce insurance rates for homeowners, get better equipment and better training for all the staff and volunteers. Chief Strobridge gave 53 years of public service to the community and will be deeply missed. Mr. Strobridge is preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his fiancé, Sandra Davis of Albany; sons, Derrick Gilmore of Washington, DC, Terrance Andrews of Statesboro, Christopher Jones and Shannon Wadley, both of Swainsboro; sisters, Dorothy Jenkins of Albany and Patricia Williams of Savannah; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and many friends.

Family has requested in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation, 2575 Chantilly Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 or the Pin Hi Golf Association, PO Box 1652, Swainsboro, Ga 30401.

Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of arrangements.