Photos Courtesy of The Forum
and Councilman Miller’s Office.
Councilman Miller delivers remarks on Monday at Mount Moriah AME Church in Cambria Heights.
By Michael V. Cusenza
A Queens Village community still very much in mourning gathered Monday evening for a memorial service to celebrate the five young lives lost last April in one of the deadliest blazes in borough history.
On Sunday, April 23, 2017, a fast-moving fire tore through the home on 208th Street near 112th Avenue around 2:30 p.m. According to authorities, all five victims – Chayce Lipford, 2; Rashawn Matthews, 10; Jada Foxworth, 16; Melody Edwards, 17; and Destiny Dones, 20 – were already dead when firefighters removed them from the smoke detector-less house.
“I encourage all of my constituents to, first and foremost, hug your loved ones a little tighter today, and then have a frank conversation with them about fire safety procedures,” said City Councilman I. Daneek Miller (D-St. Albans).
Led by the family of Melody Edwards and Miller, the ceremony at Mount Moriah AME Church in Cambria Heights featured music, dance, poetry, scripture, and reflections from family and friends.
“A year ago we lost five beautiful young people in a tragic fire. As the families continue to mourn, the community stands with them in support,” Miller remarked on Monday. “Each of these children – Melody, Chance, Jada, Destiny, and Rashawn – will stay in our memory forever. May they rest in peace.”
