“ Hopefully I can fill his ( Cheek ’ s ) shoes ,” Joy said . “ Keep it going , keep the department going in the right direction and hopefully I live up to his standards and keep everybody safe .”
But his service began at a young age , much like his children ’ s did , because Sal knew he had something to offer .
“ I wanted to help my community ,” he said . “ I knew I had the skills and the mindset to help .”
The itch that started Sal in the firefighting world became the same contagious fever his family soon caught .
One year after Sal , Christina joined the department in 2012 . She began her first responder career in medical and two years later , Christina moved into firefighting . The couple does all of this while working full time and running their own business , SCA Plumbing LLC .
“ We ’ re a family that sticks together and stays together ,” Christina said . “ With him getting chief , I ’ m ( now ) technically the training officer . I do
“ WE DON ’ T DO IT FOR THE GRATITUDE . WE DON ’ T DO IT FOR THE NOTORIETY . I DO IT
BECAUSE I LOVE IT .”
Christina Joy
Meridian Firefighter
most of the paperwork for the fire department .”
Despite both the patriarch and matriarch moving up in the ranks , Christina said it ’ s always been a family effort . The next generation of Joys , however , had to wait until they turned 18 to get into the field .
That didn ’ t stop the children from fire department life , though , and it ’ s something they ’ ve known since a very young age .
“ It ’ s been a family thing ,” she said .
“ I taught my kids this . This is all they know .”
In September 2020 , the third Joy , Salvatore Joy IV , better known as Baby Sal , joined the family fire team .
“ It ’ s what I ’ ve always wanted to do ,” Baby Sal said . “ I can ’ t remember not wanting to do this since I was little .”
Cheyann followed months later in July 2021 as the fourth family member , and brings additional experience with her because she ’ s also a Certified Nursing Assistant ( CNA ).
While Cheyann laughingly admitted to being a “ bit of an adrenaline junkie ,” she said the love for the job and “ making people happy and comfortable keeps me going .”
Coupled with the Joy platoon ’ s love for the job and following Sal ’ s community-oriented mindset , Christina , much like Cheyann , said it ’ s the love for their home in Meridian and the people they know that keeps them running headfirst into peril .
“ We love our community ,” Christina
10 DUNCAN MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2022