GRIFFIN, Ga. — Loved ones are remembering a Griffin mother who, during her last moments of life, worked to save her children from a fire earlier this week.
Firefighters responded to a Thursday morning fire at 4241 Old Atlanta Road after they received a report from a concerned bystander regarding a fire at the home. They found a woman and three children who were then life-flighted to Atlanta. Spalding County Fire Marshal Rocky White said the woman in the home helped one of the children out of the home and neighbors helped the other two children get out of the burning house.
That woman has since been identified as Madison Hope Summerville, who later died from her injuries sustained in the fire, according to her family.
Madison's sister, Chasidy Summerville, said that Madison had turned 23 on Feb. 12. Her last conversation with her sister was on Valentine's Day, and she said there's now a hole in her heart after the loss of her sibling.
"Lost without her," she said.
Chasidy watched her only sister try to cling to life after she was transported to the hospital.
"Not breathing on her own, smoke inhalation," she said.
She had to experience the grief and loss of seeing her loved one's brain activity stop -- a final result of the disastrous fire.
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Madison's sister-in-law, Amber Morris, said if it wasn't for these good samaritans, there's no telling how many more lives would have been lost or the damage that would have ensued.
"My brother is looking for the others because he wants to personally thank them," she said. "If it wasn't for them, there's no telling how bad this would be."
Morris said Madison changed her brother's life for the better, but now he will have to raise five young kids without her -- with three of them saved from the fire. And on top of that, she said he still has to deliver the devastating news about the loss of their mother.
"How the babies are going to react when they realize that their mommy is not coming home," she said.
However, as Morris said, the children have a village to support them. Madison's sister, Chasidy, wants them and the world to know that her younger sister was a brave hero whose bubbly personality was a light to everyone she met.
"She's a hero, and that's what she'll forever be," she said.
Those wanting to donate to help raise money for her service can visit the fundraiser here.