Community remembers family lost in house fire 1 year ago

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — Friends and families gathered on Sunday to remember a mother and four children killed in a tragic house fire in Coweta County -- exactly one year ago today.
 
With song, prayers, and the release of balloons into the sky, dozens of people gathered at a park to remember Alonna McCrary, 27, Eriel McCrary, 5, Nikia White, 2, Messiah White, 3, and McKenzie Florence, 1.
 
"It is hard. It is hard, I'm missing her but I try to be strong the more I lean on God, the more he gives me strength," said Latoya Brown,  Messiah White's mother.
 
The five were killed in a house fire on Midland Park Lane in Newnan. Investigators believe the fire was accidental and started in an electrical panel in the den.
 
The families wanted to honor the Newnan first responders, firefighters and police officers that were there that day.
 
"I wanted to show our appreciation back towards the firefighters because not only did they try to save the babies, they were at risk also," said Shannon Arnold, a family member who organized the event.
 
"It touches all of us even if you don't have small children.  I'm sure a lot of these guys think about this daily," said Stephen Brown, with the City of Newnan Fire Department.
 
These families hope to never forget these five lives lost way too soon.

WSBTV