Jacquetta Brooks reminisced with family and co-workers on Sunday to celebrate the last three decades she dedicated to being a firefighter.
"When I look at my granddaughters, I feel proud," Brooks said.
Back in 1988, Brooks heard the Knoxville Fire Department was looking for new firefighters at church.
She said her mother looked at her and knew it was something she'd be good at.
"She leaned down the pew and said, 'you can do that'," she said.
Her first job was at Station 5 in Mechanicsville.
She stayed there for five years before moving on to teach fire safety in schools for another decade.
The last 15 years she spent at Station 10 in South Knoxville.
"It's just an honor and a glory that God has brought me this far," she said.
Over the years Brooks believes her faith and her love for her children are what kept her going. She said being there for people in need motivated her too.
"I prayed, every time I pulled into that parking lot I prayed to God, to protect us and to be with us," Brooks said.
The fact that Brooks is the first African-American woman to become a fire captain in Knoxville is something she said she will never forget.
And for those who are hoping to follow in her footsteps, she has a bit of advice.
"With the help of the good Lord you can do it, you can do it too, you can do it," she said.