Thursday, October 1, 2026
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GASTONIA, N.C. – Gaston County Emergency Medical Services (GEMS) and all of Gaston County Government is mourning the loss today of 27-year-old paramedic Mary Jolly.
Jolly passed away this morning at a Florida hospital surrounded by family and GEMS Chief Mark Lamphiear. She was severely injured early Saturday morning on Interstate 95 in Brevard County when she stopped to help a driver that had been hit by a car.
Jolly, according to Florida Highway Patrol, was injured when another car hit her while she was attempting to provide medical aid.
“Mary was more than a colleague — she was part of our EMS family,” said GEMS Deputy Chief Jamie McConnell. “Her compassion, steady presence, and deep commitment to serving this community touched countless lives. This loss will be felt across our entire organization.”
Jolly worked for GEMS since 2021. She was a part of the department’s swift water rescue team, which had just competed against other teams from across the state at an event in Fayetteville in September.
She was a highly decorated paramedic, having been named along with Christopher Flitt as the B-Shift Outstanding Paramedic in 2023. She was also part of a crew that saved a resident who was having a heart attack earlier this summer.
“Mary represented the finest qualities of our EMS professionals – dedication, courage, and a commitment to caring for every person she encountered. We are heartbroken by her passing,” Deputy County Manager Vincent Wong said. “On behalf of Gaston County, we honor her service and extend our deepest sympathies to her family and to every member of our public safety team.”
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