Main Street was flanked by half a dozen or so fire engines and emergency vehicles, and scores of firefighters, active and retired, congregated at the Fallen Firefighters Monument to hear Chief Jason Wells pay tribute to one of their own.
Firefighter Todd Houston led a prayer before a wreath was solemnly and ceremoniously laid at the memorial in her honor.
When she was hired by the Lexington fire department in Jan 1992 Lt Brenda Cowan became the city’s first female African American firefighter. 12 years later in Jan 2004 she was promoted to Lieutenant, another first. Tragically, just a month later she became the first African American female firefighter to be killed in the line of duty in the United States when she was shot whilst responding to a domestic violence call.
20 years after her death her impact can still be seen and felt all around the city and especially within the Fire Department.
Brenda Cowan Elementary School, Lexington’s largest elementary school was named after her in 2019.
