Even as a child, James Mallett always wanted to help people. It was his calling.
And for a quarter of a century, he has lived the life of a community servant with his dedication and loyalty to the Yazoo City Fire Department.
He is a firefighter, a supporter of his fellow man.
“This career has allowed me to help others,” Mallett said, at the downtown fire station. “That is something that I love to do. I have been doing that most of my life.”
Mallett recently retired as battalion chief after 25 years of service with the department. It was a career that he takes pride in and a life that he will never forget.
“It has been a pleasure serving my community,” he said. “At this time, it is time for one chapter of my life to end as another begins.”
Mallett was born in the Carter community to Edward and Ethel Mallett.
“I grew up on Carter Road, off of a little plantation called Clark and Cato plantation,” he said.
It was a tight-knit community, and the Mallett family was extremely close.
“I grew up in church, Mt. Salem,” he said. “It’s a small church that still exists today.”
Mallett said he was raised in a proud family that believed in hard work.
“My parents raised us to be God-fearing men,” Mallett said. “We worked on the farm, which was a great experience. It really toughened me up, doing farm work.”
Mallett said his time on the family farm prepared him for his later profession as a firefighter.
“When I got this job, it came pretty easy for me,” he said, with a smile. “I knew how to work.”
Mallett graduated from Yazoo City High School in 1983. He attended Jackson State University, but returned home to take a job with Yazoo Industries. He remained there for ten years.
“But I felt something missing,” he said. “I wanted a career change.”
Chief BJ Wright offered Mallett a job at the Yazoo City Fire Department in 1990.
“Chief Wright gave me an opportunity,” Mallett said. “He was my first fire chief. I ran with it, jumped in. I learned quickly and moved up the ranks.”
Through the years, Mallett also had the opportunity to work under Charles Moore, Mike Woodard, Roy Wilson and Terry Harber.
His fellow firemen were also important in Mallett’s 25-year career.
“My co-workers stayed with me in the trenches, day in and day out,” he said. “In the seen and unseen, the good and bad times...”
The uncertainty of not knowing what each work day would hold was a challenge for Mallett.
“There is a fear, never knowing what you are getting in to when that bell rings,” Mallett said. “You can be in a dead sleep at night and then your adrenaline gets going. You never know what you are going to be up against.”
Mallett said he never lost the sense of excitement or the awareness of the potential danger.
“Every shift is a mind thing, and you have to get prepared,” Mallett sai.d “My shift starts the night before when I get my uniform together. It all starts then.”
But all the challenges can’t compare to the rewards Mallett has experience in his career.
“I love to help,” he said. “For someone to tell you thank you that means a lot to me, more than money.”
And the love and support of his wife Alma was crucial.
“I want to thank her from the beginning to the end for her sacrifices and support,” Mallett said. “These last 25 years, days and nights and weeks of not being at home....her love, care and support has stayed strong throughout the years.”
Mallett said God has blessed him with his career. And it’s his faith that will keep his busy in retirement.
“I am going to continue to help people through my Christianity,” he said.
Mallett said his career at the fire department has been “a good ride.”
“Firefighting is very good job,” he said. “It’s not the best in pay, but it’s not the worst in pay either. For the average fireman who really loves his job, it’s not just about the money. It’s a chance to help someone.”
