Family seeks donations for fire survivors

11/25/2013

FREMONT — Family members of a woman and young girl who were killed in a fire Saturday are seeking help from the community.

Family identified the victims as Brenda Shorty, 42, and her daughter, Vinesha Darden, 3. The two were inside their home at 520 May St. when a fire broke out about 4 a.m.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office had no new information Monday but were anticipating autopsies to be performed by the Lucas County Coroner’s Office.

Denease Mincey, Ms. Shorty’s aunt, said the family needs of clothing and other supplies to help Ms. Shorty’s five surviving children: Fredrick Walker, 21; Brianna Dykes, 15; Britney Dykes, 14; Viola Darden, 10, and Abdul Darden, 6.

“It’s very emotional,” Ms. Mincey said. “It’s kind of hard to lose their mom and their sister because they were very close. All the kids and their mom. Very close. My [niece] really loved her kids.”

Ms. Mincey and her mother have taken the children into their home. She asks those who can donate clothing, school supplies, or detergent should drop off them off at 620 South St. in Fremont.

“She was a loving mother,” Ms. Mincey said about Ms. Shorty. “She will be very missed. ... and the baby. Very missed.”