The Sussex County Administrative Offices complex on The Circle in Georgetown will close to the public at noon Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, ahead of the funeral and procession for fallen EMS logistics technician and volunteer firefighter Thomas W. Berry III, who was tragically lost last week while assisting a motorist after a vehicle crash.

A funeral with full firefighter honors is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday at Crossroad Community Church, 20684 State Forest Road, west of Georgetown. Friends, family, and others who wish to pay their respects may call from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church.

Following the funeral, a procession of public safety professionals and a large assemblage of fire trucks, ambulances, medic units, and other vehicles will escort Mr. Berry's body in answering his 'final alarm', making its way through downtown Georgetown to pass in front of the Georgetown Fire Company before moving on to the County's Public Safety Complex and the Ellendale Volunteer Fire Co. before concluding at the Ellendale Cemetery, where Mr. Berry will be laid to rest.

Traffic impacts in the Georgetown and Ellendale areas are expected to be significant as a result of the service and procession. For this reason, public business at the County Admin complex will halt at midday Thursday to minimize traffic in the downtown area as there will be expected road closures and detours later in the day.

Anyone with business to perform at the County Administrative Offices building is encouraged to do so in the morning hours Thursday, or delay, if possible, until Friday, Aug. 23, when the complex will re-open to the public at 8:30 a.m.