Three Bartlett boys set up a lemonade stand and raised more than $1,400 to help the family of Memphis Fire Department Driver David Pleasant, who died Wednesday, Aug. 10, after the ladder truck he was driving was hit by a pickup truck.
Police said his Truck 5 ladder truck, which was responding to a house fire call, turned on its side following the impact at Danny Thomas Boulevard and E.H Crump Boulevard. Three other firefighters in the truck were injured, but Pleasant did not survive.
The three Bartlett boys of Heather Danielle Kimball sold 10 gallons of lemonade and 12 dozen cookies, according to a Facebook post, and got many donations from people who came by the Bartlett house after learning about the fundraiser.
Those visitors included members of the Bartlett Fire Department, Memphis Fire Department, Fayette County Fire Department, Bartlett Police Department, Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
The boys were lauded widely on social media for doing such noble work.
And the Memphis Fire Fighters Association Foundation has created a fundraiser to help Pleasant’s four daughters during such a difficult time.
To find the fundraiser page, type in “David Pleasant, GoFundMe” (https://www.gofundme.com/f/memphis-firefighter-david-pleasant)
Funeral services for Pleasant, 59, a 32-year veteran of the Memphis Fire Department who frequented Fat Larry’s and other restaurants in Bartlett, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Bellevue Baptist Church, 2000 Appling Road. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 22, from 5-8 p.m. at Bellevue Baptist Church. Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., is in charge of arrangements.
His four daughters, Michelle Pleasant, Stephney Martin (Nathan), Annette Pleasant, and Janie Pleasant survive along with a brother, Charles Pleasant; granddaughter, Calista Martin; uncle, Robert Pleasant; and nephew, Zackery Pleasant.
