First responders honor Bayshore volunteer firefighter during funeral

Bayshore Fire & Rescue, along with other agencies from Across Southwest Florida, honored the life of a volunteer firefighter who served more than a decade.

Dozens of first responders paid their respects to volunteer Firefighter Dwight Henry at the Lee County Civic Center in North Fort Myers Thursday after Henry’s recent death following a medical emergency.

“Just incredible,” said Chief Larry Nisbet of Bayshore Fire & Rescue. “I mean, the kid, he never let me down.”

A service with honors was held for one of the Bayshore fire department’s own.

“Dwight was here as a volunteer firefighter for 15 years,”” Nisbet said. “He was always here whenever we needed him, whenever we needed extra people, we had a project going on, he was always here.”

It was fitting for someone who also went by the nickname “Shadow.”

“Always had a smile,” Nisbet said. “A little bit of a quiet guy. But, every once and a while, he’d zing you with a good joke here and there, but always had a smile.”

While the crew wanted to honor Henry’s life, they had to do so with caution.

The service limited the Lee County Civic center to 10% capacity, while placing seats six feet apart and providing masks and hand sanitizer at the door.

Although Henry is gone, Nisbet says he will have a lasting impact on the Bayshore crew.

“I loved every time I saw him in here, and I’m going to miss his smile,” Nisbet said. “And we’re going to carry on without him, but we’re going to be a little less full on the crew without him around here.”