Edward Stallings joined the Carthage Fire Department in 1957 and served in various roles, including assistant chief and fire chief during the 1960s. He helped establish the Smith County Rescue Squad and was one of its founding members. He was elected fire chief of the Carthage Fire Department in 1992 and served in that position until his death in 2004. On April 8, 2004, he and the Carthage Fire Department responded to a church fire at this location. While directing his men in fighting the fire, he was gravely injured by a falling wall. He later died from those injuries on August 1, 2004, after giving his life in service to the citizens of Carthage and all of Smith County.