SAMPSON COUNTY, N.C. — Preparations are underway for Sergeant Matthew Fishman’s funeral Tuesday in Wayne County. Fishman died last week after he was shot while serving involuntary commitment papers in Dudley.
Sgt. Matthew Fishman was 38-years-old and worked for Wayne County Sheriff since 2010
Fishman was shot and killed following a call to serve involuntarily commitment papers on Monday, Aug. 1
Services for Fishman will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at University of Mount Olive’s Kornegay Arena
Back The Blue NC, Inc. is fundraising to help Fishman’s surviving children and wife through a GoFundMe page
Douglas Wood is the owner of Circle Florist in Newton Grove, and he has been making arrangements for the services.
On Monday, Wood was finishing up the final arrangements. He says it’s a mix of emotions because on one hand he’s sad that he even has to make them, but he’s also honored that he gets to use his talents to create something that might bring even just a little comfort to Fishman’s family.
)
“This is from his boss man. Usually the boss man when a law enforcement officer dies they send a round wreath with, most of the time, his badge number inside it,” Wood said. “They wanted it more of the blues because he started out in the law in Mount Olive from my understanding. It’s an honor to do it and a sad situation. They work so hard to protect us and then something like this happens,” Wood said.
This August marks seven years of Wood’s shop being in business.
“It’s always been a passion of mine, and after my mother died I just gave up everything else and just started it, and it was a long road,” Wood said.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Wood has made arrangements for a first responder. He helped bring beauty to a service last year after a Newton Grove police officer died in a crash.
“That hit us all because we had just talked to him a couple nights before. I work late at night up here a lot, and he always stopped and checked on us and then all of a sudden he wasn’t there,” Wood said.
Wood believes making these kinds of arrangements is a privilege.
“I usually think of the person that I’m working for, the one who’s passed away,” Wood said.
It all comes together when he adds the finishing touch: Fishman’s badge number.
“To me it’s kind of emotional when you put the actual number in because it’s just like this is going to be the last time that number is probably going to be used. Hopefully, they will retire his number,” Wood said.
An officer’s badge number is a symbol of their promise to protect and serve because it’s a job that comes with harsh realities.
“They went to work, and it’s a job, but yet they’re not coming home. They didn’t get to come home that day. It’s not just go to work and come home,” Wood said.
For Wood, this tragic situation is a reminder to never take a single day for granted.
“Make sure you tell your loved ones ‘I love you’ before you leave the house for the last time every day,” Wood said.
Back The Blue NC, Inc. is fundraising to help the surviving children and wife of Fishman through a GoFundMe page.
For those interested in donating by check, checks can be made to Back The Blue NC, Inc. (Memo: Benefit for family of Sgt. Fishman) and delivered to: Back The Blue NC, Inc., P.O. Box 78, Franklinton, NC 27525.
Back The Blue NC operates as a 100% nonprofit and 100% volunteer-drive organization, ensuring that every penny of donations received will benefit the surviving children and spouse of Fishman.
Fishman’s funeral services are happening Tuesday, August 9 at 11 a.m. at University of Mount Olive’s Kornegay Arena. After the service, there will be a procession to Wayne Memorial Park in Dudley.
Spectrum News 1 will have full coverage of Tuesday’s services.
