Fire claims the lives of married couple in Effingham County

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - A community in Effingham County is mourning, after a fire killed a married couple who called the area home for more than 50 years.

The smoke has cleared, now rubble and grief linger where two beloved members of this community lost their lives.

“They was wonderful people. God-loving people,” said Pernell Nixon, Effingham County.

Friends and loved ones gathered at the home of these two victims. Hugging, crying, retelling stories of the couple.

“The whole neighborhood know of them,” said Nixon.

Monday morning, a fire broke out, killing the two people living at the home. A married couple, who called this neighborhood in Egypt home for more than five decades.

The sheriff’s office has not released their names yet as they work to notify family.

But, we found out the man, was a deacon at a church. Pernell Nixon worked alongside him just the day before.

“His last word was be so ever ready. You never know when God gonna call you home,” said Nixon.

He didn’t realize that those words would be the last he heard from them.

“It seemed like, you know, people being put in your place for certain reasons. To learn. So, this community is, is definitely going to have lost a, a great person to this day. These two people,” said Nixon.

He says this is a huge tragedy for the community, and one they are still working to process.

Now, he just wants to work to continue their legacy.

“I will do my best to make God happy and make him proud of me too, as well, um, in service,” said Nixon.

We are still waiting for official confirmation on the identity of the two deceased, as well as what could have caused this deadly fire. Be sure to stick with WTOC for any updates.