The fourth of July should be a day of celebration for all Americans. Some days just don't go the way people think and hope they will.
The Pierce family lost their home at 83 Lingle Road in a fire around 10:30 p.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Mississippi State Fire Marshall and cannot be verified at this time.
Haylee Pierce said the family was getting ready for bed when the fire began.
"The fire grabbed a hold of our dry pine garage, and it was done for," Haylee Pierce said. "Thank goodness we were not asleep yet. We all got out. My two boxers, Zeus and Lucie, got out right behind me."
Pierce lost her mother, Tammie Pierce, on April 8 to cancer, and she said this is the most traumatic event she has ever gone through other than that.
"My brother and I both lost our vehicles," Pierce said. "Literally, we lost everything we own. And I lost everything Noah, my 8-month-old, ever had. All the memorabilia my mama bought him. Gone. All of the pictures we ever collected from family. Gone.
"We do have God and our jobs and that's it," she said. "I work at Marion General Hospital as a nurse, and the nursing director and employees there have provided so much help. Dad is a paramedic with AAA, and they've done the same. I'm also a full-time student at William Carey University, and the nursing program has also helped with things for Noah. God gave us a wonderful community that has helped so much, and there aren't enough words to express our gratitude."
Pierce said they are in need of household items at this time because they have none of those items.
The family is looking for a place to rent until they can get the damage cleared at the home and decide what to do moving forward. Both Pierce and her father, Steve Pierce, said they most likely will not rebuild at the same location.
"I think Dad wants to go to another area," Pierce said. "It's been hard without mom here. I wouldn't wish this on anyone."
