Derrick Scott, Gleaner Writer
ATLANTA,Georgia:
THE THREE Jamaicans who perished in a house fire in Atlanta, Georgia three days before Christmas, will be laid to rest today. The service of thanksgiving for the lives of the three will be held at the New Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ellenwood at 1:00 p.m. Interment follows at the Kennedy Memorial Gardens.
The Jamaican community in Atlanta is expected to turn out in large numbers to support the family. Jamaica's Honorary Consul in Atlanta, Vin Martin, will be in attendance and will offer words of comfort on behalf of the Jamaican community.
Tracey Ann Plummer 37, her stepdaughter Delia, eight and son Dijon II, seven died in a fire of unexplained origin early on the morning of Wednesday, December 22.
ENGULFED IN FLAMES
According to the Dekalb County Fire Chief, David Foster, the fire department received a call at about 11:00 p.m. and when they arrived at the five-bedroom home five minutes later, found it to be fully engulfed in flames. By the time rescue crews fought through the flames which had consumed the first floor they found the three bodies close together on the second floor of the house. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Dijon Plummer, Snr., said he received a call from his sister-in law that the house was on fire, as he was returning home from taking his eldest son to a party. Family members said he is distraught as he tries to cope with this tragic loss.
Delia Plummer was making her first trip to the United States from the Turks and Caicos Islands to meet her half-brothers and other members of the family for the first time. Plans had been made for a big Christmas celebration.
The family moved to Atlanta last January from North Lauderdale, Florida.
The death of the three has been a major story in Atlanta, and has been carried on all major television networks and newspapers and has sent shockwaves through the Jamaican community.
The Atlanta Jamaica Association through its family relations committee has been supporting the family. In addition, the Honorary Consul in Atlanta, Vin Martin, and the family have established an account to receive donations at all Bank of America branches.
