Residents in the eastern portion of Clarendon County are banding together to help a couple who lost a pet and all their possessions Thursday in a house fire.
Clarendon Fire Chief Frances Richbourg said the cause of the fire on Oak Lane has not been definitively determined as of Thursday night.
"We're not exactly sure of the cause right now, but there's a possibility that the dryer may have been involved," Richbourg said. "That's not definite."
Richbourg said the home, which belonged to Steve and Judy Coker Williams, was considered a total loss. She said firefighters with the South Lynches and Olanta fire departments assisted the Clarendon County Fire Department.
"Bad things can certainly happen to good people," said Jenna Reynolds Windham, manager of the "Good News, Turbeville" Facebook page. Windham took to social media Thursday night to help raise funds and collect items for the Williams family.
"Steve is a friendly fixture at our neighborhood IGA and the administrator for the popular Facebook page, 'Turbeville Remembers When,'" said friend Jenna Reynolds Windham on social media. "Judy is now retired after many years of dedication to the students at District 3 as a teacher, coach and even bus driver. Her daughter and grandchild are also affected by the loss."
Windham said monetary donations and gift cards may be dropped off at Community Pharmacy in Turbeville, with checks payable to either Steve or Judy Williams.
"As we often do in this town, we come together and help when needed," Windham said. "We will be working on other ways to help as we find out further details on other projects. Please keep this family in your prayers as they go about the difficult task of piecing things back together."
