A county spokesperson confirmed June 8 that Brenda Willis is set to become Henry County’s first female fire chief and is scheduled to begin July 11.

Willis is currently the fire chief in Riverdale.

She is reportedly retired from the Atlanta Fire Department and has more than 35 years of experience. Her appointment was not disclosed at the June 7 meeting of the Board of Commissioners, as the county manager has the authority to make the hire and it does not require board approval. Longtime county employee Brad Johnson has been interim fire chief since Bill Lacy’s retirement in December.

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8/26/17 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Sandra Deal, members of the King family, and Rep. Calvin Smyre,  were on hand for unveiling of the first statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the statehouse grounds, more than three years after Gov. Nathan Deal first announced the project.  During the hour-long ceremony leading to the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the state Capitol on Monday, many speakers, including Gov. Nathan Deal, spoke of King's biography. The statue was unveiled on the anniversary of King's famed "I Have Dream" speech. BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres