The Quitman community will pause to pay respects to one of its own Thursday.

Mayor Randy Dunn has issued a proclamation that flags in the city are to be lowered to half staff Thursday for Senior Airman Fabian Roman, who passed away on Wednesday, April 2 at age 27.

He was a 2016 graduate of Quitman High School and joined the U.S. Air Force in May 2017.

In addition, citizens are encouraged to line the route to the Quitman City Cemetery along Hwy. 37 northbound from just south to Richards St., north to E. Goode St., and east to the turn off to the cemetery on Goldsmith St.

Roman was a member of the Bulldog football team and was 2015 homecoming king.

He began his career in missile security at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. Initially serving as an assaulter with the 91st Missile Security Forces Squadron (MSFS) from November 2017 to July 2018, he transitioned to a response force leader role within the 791st MSFS, also at Minot AFB, until April 2021. This role focused on responding to and mitigating hostile actions within the missile complex.

From April 2021 to August 2022, Roman was stationed at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, with the 51st Security Forces Squadron. He served as a force response member and alarm monitor, contributing to the base defense mission. He moved to Vogelweh Military Complex, Germany, where he served as a patrolman and response force member with the 569th United States Forces Police Squadron from August 2022 to August 2024.

Roman returned to Minot AFB in August 2024, joining the 5th Security Forces Squadron as a response force member, responsible for the security of nuclear assets. Additionally, he was a supervisor of five enlisted personnel. He completed Airman Leadership School in 2023 and received an Air and Space Achievement Medal in April 2022.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 10 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Mineola at 11 a.m. Committal will follow at Quitman City Cemetery. The procession from Mineola is expected to reach Quitman no later than 12:30 p.m.

A visitation was to be held from 6-8 p.m. with a Rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9 at Lowe-Gardner Funerals & Cremations.