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By Liz Beavers
lbeavers@newstribune.info
Tribune Managing Editor
PIEDMONT – Several young friends of James Michael “Jimmy” Miller, who lost his life early Saturday morning in the fire that destroyed his family's East Hampshire Street home, remembered the 17-year-old Monday as “a really good person who would help anybody he could.”
The fire, which is currently under investigation by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office, destroyed the duplex in which Jimmy, mother Tia Miller, Mark Taylor and Eudora and Russ Edwards lived.
Monday afternoon, five of Jimmy's friends were taping two homemade memorial notes to the front wall of what remains of his home. One of the notes had been signed by everyone who used to ride the school bus with the young man.
Beside the notes, on the front steps of the home are several bouquets of flowers which had been left earlier.
“Everybody really loved Jimmy. This is a really big loss to the community,” friend Alyshia Lambert said as she and four friends stood on the sidewalk, looking up at the shell that was once Jimmy's home.
“It's taking us awhile to realize he's gone,” Makayla Smith added.
All five of the young ladies remembered Jimmy as a fun-loving and fun person.
“His laughter was contagious,” Smith said.
“He loved to go sled riding and snowball fighting,” Meredith Grimm recalled, to which Jurnee Price added he would “use anything he could find” as a sled, thus earning a reputation for being hard to beat in the speed department.
Jimmy also loved dogs, and his family had just gotten two greyhound/pit bull pups which survived the fire and are now being temporarily sheltered in the fenced-in yard at the Piedmont American Legion.
The girls Monday talked about the rumor that Jimmy had perished trying to save the dogs, but could not confirm the truth of the tale.
They do know, however, that his loss will be felt by family and friends alike as they all struggle to cope with the reality of his death.
“Children are supposed to bury their parents, not the other way around. That's what my mother always says,” Kearra Snyder said.
As the town tries to cope with the loss of the young man, William Peck of the Piedmont Legion is hoping to find someone who will either adopt or foster his 9-month-old pups. The dogs appear to be in good health and suffering no ill effects from the tragedy, and are very friendly.
Under the direction of Paula Boggs, the Legion is also accepting donations of clothing for the surviving family members, who lost everything in the blaze.
The following sizes are needed:
Eudora Edwards: 10-12 dress, 12 (long) pants, 12-14 blouse, 16 long jacket or coat, and 9B shoe.
Rusty Edwards: 40x30 pants, 2X shirts/coat, and 11D shoe.
Mark Taylor: 32x32 pants and medium shirt.
They have not yet been able to obtain sizes for Tia Miller.
The families are being assisted by the Red Cross, as well.
For further information, or to assist the families or adopt the dogs, call the Piedmont American Legion at 304-355-2811.
By Liz Beavers
lbeavers@newstribune.info
Tribune Managing Editor
PIEDMONT – Several young friends of James Michael “Jimmy” Miller, who lost his life early Saturday morning in the fire that destroyed his family's East Hampshire Street home, remembered the 17-year-old Monday as “a really good person who would help anybody he could.”
The fire, which is currently under investigation by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office, destroyed the duplex in which Jimmy, mother Tia Miller, Mark Taylor and Eudora and Russ Edwards lived.
Monday afternoon, five of Jimmy's friends were taping two homemade memorial notes to the front wall of what remains of his home. One of the notes had been signed by everyone who used to ride the school bus with the young man.
Beside the notes, on the front steps of the home are several bouquets of flowers which had been left earlier.
“Everybody really loved Jimmy. This is a really big loss to the community,” friend Alyshia Lambert said as she and four friends stood on the sidewalk, looking up at the shell that was once Jimmy's home.
“It's taking us awhile to realize he's gone,” Makayla Smith added.
All five of the young ladies remembered Jimmy as a fun-loving and fun person.
“His laughter was contagious,” Smith said.
“He loved to go sled riding and snowball fighting,” Meredith Grimm recalled, to which Jurnee Price added he would “use anything he could find” as a sled, thus earning a reputation for being hard to beat in the speed department.
Jimmy also loved dogs, and his family had just gotten two greyhound/pit bull pups which survived the fire and are now being temporarily sheltered in the fenced-in yard at the Piedmont American Legion.
The girls Monday talked about the rumor that Jimmy had perished trying to save the dogs, but could not confirm the truth of the tale.
They do know, however, that his loss will be felt by family and friends alike as they all struggle to cope with the reality of his death.
“Children are supposed to bury their parents, not the other way around. That's what my mother always says,” Kearra Snyder said.
As the town tries to cope with the loss of the young man, William Peck of the Piedmont Legion is hoping to find someone who will either adopt or foster his 9-month-old pups. The dogs appear to be in good health and suffering no ill effects from the tragedy, and are very friendly.
Under the direction of Paula Boggs, the Legion is also accepting donations of clothing for the surviving family members, who lost everything in the blaze.
The following sizes are needed:
Eudora Edwards: 10-12 dress, 12 (long) pants, 12-14 blouse, 16 long jacket or coat, and 9B shoe.
Rusty Edwards: 40x30 pants, 2X shirts/coat, and 11D shoe.
Mark Taylor: 32x32 pants and medium shirt.
They have not yet been able to obtain sizes for Tia Miller.
The families are being assisted by the Red Cross, as well.
For further information, or to assist the families or adopt the dogs, call the Piedmont American Legion at 304-355-2811.
