By By: The People News Online
The Duport Road Shara Community awoke to unimaginable grief on Saturday after a devastating late-night fire claimed the life of its beloved Chairlady, Mrs. Deiode Davies Garnett, along with three family members, leaving an entire neighborhood shattered.
The blaze erupted around 11:00 p.m. Friday, consuming the home where Mrs. Garnett lived with her children and grandchild. Neighbors say the fire spread with terrifying speed, giving the family little chance to escape. Despite desperate attempts by residents—joined later by the Liberia Fire Service—the inferno overpowered every effort to save them.
When the flames were finally subdued, the community’s worst fears were confirmed. Mrs. Garnett, described by residents as a mother to all, was found lifeless in her bathroom tub, a tragic sign that she fought desperately to reach safety. Alongside her were the bodies of her eldest daughter, believed to be in her mid-20s, her 12-year-old grandson, and a young boy who lived with the family.
“It’s heartbreaking… she was trying to escape,” one neighbor said through tears. “The cool hands of death took them all.”
The tragedy has struck even deeper as residents revealed that a man connected to the family had recently lost his job, sending the household into a period of emotional and financial stress—pain now compounded by an unimaginable loss.
As dawn broke, grief-stricken residents and relatives surrounded the charred structure, many sobbing uncontrollably as they stared at the ruins of a home that once radiated warmth, leadership, and community spirit. Mrs. Garnett was known not just as a chairlady, but as a pillar—someone who brought people together, mediated disputes, and supported struggling families.
Authorities from both the Liberia National Fire Service and the Liberia National Police have launched a full investigation into the cause of the fire, which remains unknown.
For now, Duport Road Shara Community stands united in mourning, struggling to process a tragedy that has robbed them of a leader, a mother, and three innocent lives.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Mr. Garnett, the Davis family, and all who are grieving this painful loss.
