Treutlen County Honors Late Former Fire Chief

Treutlen County firefighters and citizens are mourning the loss of longtime Fire Chief Phil Wilcher, who passed away on Wednesday, August 27.

Wilcher was born in Vidalia on November 9, 1952, but was a lifelong resident of Treutlen County, and even graduated from Treutlen High School in 1970. After high school, he worked at the Soperton Guano Plant and Harrell’s IGA before becoming a Ranger One Firefighter for the Georgia Forestry Commission; he served as the Commission from 1986 until 2010.

In 1989, he stepped up to lead his county as the Soperton/ Treutlen County Fire Chief, where he served the county until his retirement from both the Forestry Commission and the County in 2010. After retiring, Wilcher still had a desire to be out in the community, so he worked at the Soperton Farm Center, where it is said that he never met a stranger and continued building relationships with many in the community, from 2015 until 2025.

Wilcher was honored with a memorial service at the Anchor of Hope Worship Center in Soperton on Saturday, August 30, and received formal firefighter honors during his burial at the Westview Cemetery. During the funeral procession, two county fire trucks saluted Wilcher with the ceremonial Iron Cross formation, as firefighters paid their respects to the man who led the County for so long. Musicians also played the traditional bagpipe and dueling trumpet salute during the graveside service.

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The Treutlen County Commissioners issued a formal statement about Wilcher’s memorial, calling the late Chief “one of Soperton’s finest citizens.”

Treutlen County/Soperton Fire Chief John Johnson also spoke about the occasion. “Today, we buried Retired Fire Chief Phil Wilcher. Our community fire protection would not be where it is today without his efforts. The soul of our community would not be where it is today without his love for and devotion to Jesus Christ. This man lived his life daily as an example of Christ in his words, actions, and deeds,” he emphasized.

Fire Chief Phil Wilcher