The Albemarle County community has come together to raise money to support two young girls whose parents were killed in a tragic house fire in Keswick on Sunday.
Ashley and Stephen Williams, both 37, died one day after celebrating their 11th wedding anniversary.
“Ashley and Stephen were a true team, a dynamic, loving duo whose devotion to each other and their family was unmatched,” Ashley’s co-workers wrote. “Together they built a home filled with laughter, love and kindness, and their greatest joy was being parents to their two precious daughters.”
Their two daughters, Emma, 8, and Lilly, 3, were both hospitalized after the fire. Emma was released from the hospital and is now staying with family in Richmond. Lilly remains at VCU Health on breathing and feeding tubes, according to a recent update.
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Two gofundme campaigns have been set up to meet the needs of the young children with more than $110,000 raised to date.
To date, the first gofundme has raised more than $80,000 to go toward burial expenses for the couple, medical care and recovery costs for the two girls, clothing, school supplies and basic necessities lost in the fire, counseling and long-term living expenses.
“In a single night, these beautiful little girls lost their parents, their home, their beloved dog Duke and every belonging they owned,” read a post from Jason Tetterton, who is organizing the fundraiser on behalf of The First In Foundation and the East Rivanna Volunteer Fire Department.
The First In Foundation will serve as the steward of these donations and will ensure that every dollar is distributed appropriately on their behalf, according to the fundraiser.
A second gofundme was set up by Ashley’s co-workers at Commonwealth Senior Living, and donations will go through its nonprofit arm, Commonwealth Cares. Ashley helped start the foundation and served on the grant committee since its inception.
To date, more than $32,000 has been raised through the second campaign. The funds raised will go toward ensuring the children’s needs are met both now and in the future, the fundraiser states.
The fire on Starry Sky Lane has been determined to be accidental in nature, according to the Albemarle County Fire Marshal’s office. The structure fire was reported at approximately 7 a.m. on Sunday morning.
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Crystal Graham
