PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Three days after his sister’s death in a fire to her home, Shefford Williams described the grief felt by his family, now mourning the loss of two of her children.
“It’s just a very trying time for us as a family,” Williams said. “We’re at a loss for words at this moment, but we’ll recover. We’ll definitely recover. God is going to strengthen us and we’re going to get through this as a family.”
Charred pieces are all that remain of the home 37-year-old Aria Williams shared with her children.
Williams, a certified nursing assistant, was trapped in her Neville Street home Friday with four of her children and a grandchild after the fire broke out around 9:30 p.m.
Firefighters pulled Williams, 4-year-old Lamar White Jr. and 2-year-old Ellay White from the burning home.
Williams did not survive. Ellay and Lamar, who had suffered serious injuries and were taken to Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, were pronounced dead Tuesday.
Loved ones, along with an investigator from the Fire Marshal’s Office by their side, toured the charred debris of the home Monday morning.
Williams’ 19-year-old son Jahkes, a Merchant Marine, was in Charleston when the home caught fire. He’s disappointed he wasn’t on hand to help his mother and his four siblings.
“I just ask for our prayers so our family can get some relief from this tragic incident,” Williams said. “And thank you to the firefighters and the Fire Marshal that tried to save my family. That helped out a lot. I really appreciate y’all for that.”
The family has created a GoFundMe account to help them in this time of unimaginable tragedy. Click this link if you would like to contribute.
