CONROE, Texas – Family, friends and community members came together Saturday to remember three lives lost in a Montgomery County house fire earlier in may.
Kyle Mitchell, 5, Kaila Mitchell, 6, and 13-year-old Terrence “TJ” Mitchell -- all siblings -- died after their Tamina home caught fire May 12. The funeral services were held at the Christ Church United Methodist in the Woodlands.
Hundreds of people from all walks of life packed the church, some waiting since 8 a.m. in for the 11 a.m. service.
Members of the community and friends stood in the back. There were guests who watched the service on TVs outside the main church area.
"Wonderful children. Just a wonderful family all together," family friend Kendra Brown said. “We’re here for the family … We need to be strong for the family.”
Photos of the children were placed in several areas of the church. Many people like Brown, stopped to look and remember them.
"I can't even imagine what it would be like to lose one -- but to lose three at one time -- it's almost unbelievable," Brown said.
Law enforcement and first responders came to pay their respects. Others came from the children’s former schools in Jasper, Alabama.
But aside from the mourning, the family called it a “homegoing celebration.”
"God makes no mistakes, and he brought our children home,” said the children’s great uncle Orange Wyatt Jr., who spoke on behalf of the family. “Now his garden is filled with love and enthusiasm from those three babies."
Terrence Mitchell's school friends stood together, hugging each other for support.
"[Terrence] would bring joy to everyone -- and if anyone had a sad day -- he would put smiles on everyone's faces," 12-year-old Paige Armstrong said.
"He's watching us from Heaven," 13-year-old Havangli Wells said.
The program included speakers from Jasper Elementary, Houser Elementary, Vogel Intermediate School, the State Usher Department and more.
The church was filled with singing, clapping, dancing, tears, laughter and applause. Attendees were encouraged to celebrate the life these three had. Guests were also asked to remember the family and their needs months from now.
“The family has to start again from nothing,” Wyatt Jr. said. “It was really devastating … But we will be there for them now and months from now, and I’m sure the community will too.”
He said the family is so grateful and unbelievably touched by the support and love they’ve received during this difficult time.
“We're just so thankful for them. It just means everything. It really does," Wyatt Jr. said.