JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Booker Henry and his wife Vanessa are heartbroken. When the couple turned on the news this morning, they couldn’t believe their eyes.
“I was devastated. My heart was just hurting on the inside because I just spoke with sister Campbell,” said Henry, a local pastor of Christ Gospel Church Prayer House.
Henry told Action News Jax that 78-year-old Geneva Campbell attends his church and he and his wife have known Campbell for over two decades.
Police say a woman in her 70s was killed in a fire last night on 21st Street in NW Jacksonville. 2 children are also in critical condition @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/Y1xiTjdRDe
— Alicia Tarancon (@AliciaANJax) January 12, 2022
“I’m truly lost for words, she was a wonderful woman, wonderful church worker, singer in the choir,” Vanessa Henry said.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the fire broke out just before 10:00 p.m. Tuesday. When firefighters arrived at the scene they had to remove burglar bars before they could get inside.
“And I just saw the house all up in flames and I called 911. I really started hyperventilating myself because it was just overwhelming,” said Tamara Reed who lives next door.
Once firefighters got in the home they found Campbell and two young children inside and rushed them to a nearby hospital.
Unfortunately, Campell didn’t survive.
The two children whom neighbors say Cambell was caring for are in critical condition.
“It’s such a sad situation for this to happen to someone that’s so loving and so kind,” Booker Henry said.
Police said the fire does not appear to be suspicious
Action News Jax has reached out to the state fire marshal about the cause of the fire. We’re still waiting to hear back.
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