As part of our What Matters community impact platform, Pye-Barker has partnered with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) a nonprofit organization created by the U.S. Congress to honor America’s fallen firefighters, support their families, and work to prevent firefighter line-of-duty deaths and injuries.
To shine a spotlight on the NFFF’s impact, Pye-Barker and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson have partnered for an all-new “Helmet of Heroes,” worn by Jimmie in the Daytona 500 Cup Series race. As part of the race day appreciation, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB invited Jessica Seaburg and Marisa Harris Boykin to the track to recognize their volunteer work with the NFFF.
In childhood, both Jessica and Marisa lost their fathers – firefighters Kevin Seaburg and Clifford Harris – in the line of duty. Today, they serve as peer supporters for Fire Hero Families and are co-founders of the Children of the Legends Facebook group, a supportive community for children of fallen firefighters.
Pye-Barker asked Jessica and Marisa to share more about their advocacy and how the NFFF has impacted their lives.
Q: Can you introduce yourself?
Jessica: I’m the proud mom to an athletic and compassionate 12-year old boy named Kevin, and supportive wife to my husband Shaun, who has served over 30 years as a firefighter. I’m blessed to have a bonus daughter, Aurora, who is a freshman in college. As a family we love traveling to the beach in the summer, rooting for the NY Mets, and dedicating our time to our community.
Fun Fact: Our son Kevin is named after my dad and truly is my dad through and through! Kevin wants to be a firefighter when he grows up and enjoys hearing all the wonderful stories we tell him about his Grandpa Seaburg in Heaven!
Marisa: I’m a mom, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and a survivor. My three children are the heart of my world, constantly keeping me going. I am fortunate to work as a librarian at our middle and high school, and I couldn’t ask for a better job or team of co-workers! I thoroughly enjoy spending time with my family, diving into books, and exploring new places. I also treasure the moments I share with my fire survivor family.
Q: Can you each tell us about your dad? What drew him to firefighting and what did he love about the profession?
Jessica: My dad’s family is deeply rooted in the fire service as my Nana, Grandpa, and Great Uncle were active members with our fire department and volunteer ambulance service. Naturally, my dad and his brother joined the department as well. My dad truly enjoyed the annual convention parades in which he would reunite with old friends and make memories with other fire departments as well. My dad’s passion to serve as a firefighter was seen in his 15 years of service in which he held the position of Assistant Chief.
Marisa: My dad was an incredible man, and I was fortunate enough to share nine brief years with him. He was the youngest of three siblings and had a heart of gold. I believe his passion and dedication for helping others inspired him to become a firefighter; he was always prepared to lend a hand, regardless of the situation. He cherished his community, and in return, they cherished him.
Q: What was your introduction to the NFFF? How has NFFF made an impact on you?
Jessica: My mom, my sister Sarah, and I were introduced to the NFFF in 1998 when our fire hero was honored in the annual Memorial Weekend.
From that point forward, the NFFF became a pillar of strength as a teenage girl in 1998 to high school graduate in 2002. At graduation, I was awarded the Senator Paul Sarbanes Memorial Scholarship which greatly assisted with the cost of college tuition. After graduation, I continued to volunteer with the NFFF as a peer-to-peer liaison, a presenter of “My Story” at different NFFF events, and a mentor to the families of the Charleston 9.
Marisa: When I was 10 years old, we attended the 1995 NFFF Memorial Weekend to pay tribute to my dad. I vividly recall participating in a candlelight service, followed by the main memorial service the next day. It wasn’t until 15 years later in 2010, that I reconnected with the NFFF, all thanks to our honor guard from years earlier. I returned as a survivor to volunteer for Memorial Weekend in both 2010 and 2011. Subsequently, I began attending the Wellness/Survivor Conferences and Winter Retreats. The NFFF is an incredible organization that genuinely cares for our heroes and the families they leave behind. They have profoundly impacted my life, always offering a listening ear, encouragement, guidance when needed, and support, among many other things.
The connections I have formed through my dad are nothing short of remarkable. I’ve encountered individuals I would have never met otherwise, and while losing a parent is profoundly sad, these relationships have transformed my life. As we often say, this is a family no one wishes to join, yet for those of us who do, it’s truly one of the most supportive families imaginable. Each member uplifts one another. Even during personal challenges, our survivor family from across the U.S. reaches out. Whenever we gather, it feels like a big family reunion.
Q: How did you two meet? What has it meant for you to have a friend who understands your experience?
Jessica: In April of 2013, I was invited to attended a “Survivors Conference” in Phoenix, AZ. This conference was focused on building friendships, attending sessions to help navigate through our grief journey, and to connect with other fire service hero families.
This conference had a few daughters of fallen firefighters, and it became clear that Marisa and I had very similar stories with the loss of our dads. Our dads held office, our dads both died from cardiac arrest, and we were both around the same age at the time of their deaths.
From that point in 2013, Marisa became and still is my person! We have encouraged one another when hard times were upon us. We inspired each other to be the best version of ourselves. We never let more than a few days pass without talking with one another and to me, we are true definition of my saying, “sisterhood through brotherhood!” She is my person forever and always!
Marisa: Despite the 1,627 miles that separate us and the fact that we only see each other once or twice a year, we speak every day. She is the best friend I never knew I needed. Our incredible bond stems not only from our shared experiences with our dads but also from our personal journeys. We truly understand one another, and friendships like ours are rare and precious.
Q: You both co-founded a Facebook peer group called Children of the Legends for other children of LODDs. What inspired you to found the group?
Jessica: Marisa and I were approached to create a Facebook peer group page because the NFFF recognized how beneficial our friendship was in good times and tough times. Our small group of adult children [who lost a parent in a LODD] rely on one another with advice, guidance, and suggestions to get through the layers of grief we may experience on our journey. We are the “Children of the Legends!”
Marisa: During a NFFF conference, I facilitated a discussion for our adult children’s group. In that dialogue, we explored how each of us navigated various life challenges without a parent. With the encouragement and support of the Foundation, our group has thrived for nearly seven years. It serves as a safe space for us to communicate, whether to celebrate achievements, share encouragement, express frustrations, or seek advice. Additionally, the NFFF hosted our first Adult Children Retreat in 2023 and we are eagerly anticipating another one in 2026.
Q: Pye-Barker will be sponsoring the NFFF Staff Ride in April in Honor of the Charleston 9 who were lost during the Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire. Jessica, can you tell us about your experience in Charleston supporting those families?
Jessica: The Charleston 9 will forever hold a very special place in my heart. I volunteered my summer to this beautiful city to help aid grief structure programs for the children affected by this tragic fire. In addition, I helped organization the Low Country Firefighter Support Team which provided mental health support to firefighters.
Every year while decorating the Christmas Trees in the Chapel at the NFFF campus, I try to find ornaments of the Charleston 9 and hang them on the lighted trees with honor and remembrance.
Q: Marisa, can you tell us about the Clifford Harris Memorial Fund?
Marisa: My dad was deeply involved in our community and dedicated his life to the fire department. His selflessness and commitment to helping others inspired me to uphold his legacy in the best possible way. So in 2014 I established the Clifford Harris Memorial Fund, marking the 20th anniversary of my dad’s death. I needed to grow up before I could fully start giving back. The fund was created to assist local volunteer fire departments in obtaining necessary equipment, and we’ve successfully awarded eight annual donations to departments in our area. In addition, my dad’s fire department initiated a scholarship for high school seniors, which I took over in 2015. This May, we will be awarding our 31st scholarship.
Q: Jessica, your family has a strong history with the Selkirk Fire Department. What inspired you to get involved with the department yourself?
Jessica: My family is deeply rooted in the fire service and I felt it necessary to carry our family tradition by joining our department. This year, marked 20 years of service for myself and during my time, I’ve held several leadership positions. I began my role as Chaplin, Vice President, and President of our Auxiliary.
My most recent role led me to the first female Fire Commissioner in which I was elected by our community. I served in this role for three years and recently stepped down to focus on my family.
Q: What are some of your proudest moments in your work with NFFF?
Jessica: My proudest moment with the NFFF is serving with the amazing team that supported the Charleston 9 in June 2007. This experience allowed me to openly talk about the loss of my dad and comfort families who were struggling with the loss of their firefighter.
Marisa: The NFFF has supported me since the very beginning. This summer marks 32 years since my dad’s passing, and the NFFF continues to treat us like family. I cherish my work with the NFFF because it allows me to share my story and offer hope to those who are just starting their journey. I truly understand their feelings and struggles, and if I can provide them with a glimmer of hope and reassurance that everything will be okay, it helps alleviate some of my own pain. My proudest achievement is being a voice for our community.
Thank you to Jessica and Marisa for sharing their stories with us! Their contributions and volunteerism have made an impact on countless lives, something we can all take inspiration from.
Learn more about the NFFF and Pye-Barker’s partnership here.