Woman loses house three weeks after burying husband
Three weeks after Kerene Smith-White laid her husband to rest, she was yet again dealt a hard blow after fire destroyed her home in Spring Grove, Manchester.
Smith-White told THE STAR that her husband died earlier this year from dengue, and on April 6 her two-bedroom house was burnt to the ground.
"A lady call me in the morning and tell me that she wanted her hair braided and I went to do it. 'Bout inna the 11 o'clock, me miss two calls and me seh me a go call back. When me call back dem seh mi house deh pan fire, when mi blaze come, mi see my room deh pan fire. It bun dung straight, nothing nuh get fi save, not even a pin," she said.
She said that her five-year-old and one-year-old children would normally be in the house sleeping. However, on that fateful day, they were at their grandmother's house.
"All now I don't know what cause the fire," the woman said.
At present, Smith-White and four of her children are staying at her mother's house, but she said the first step has been taken to get a roof over their heads once more.
"I got a copy of the fire report and I brought it to Food for the Poor. They said they are dealing with the house for me. So I am just patiently waiting. Mi affi a pray and read my Bible and keep myself strong because if I don't focus, stress take me over," she said.
The 36-year-old told THE STAR that she misses her husband of 16 years dearly, but she has to remain strong for her children. She said that life is no longer the same, but she thanks God for strength.
"The stress come upon me because mi bury mi husband on March 10 and lose me house April 6, but when you have Jesus and grace, it make a big, big difference, I tell you," she said.