GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids community is rallying around two young sisters who survived a horrific house fire set by their mother on January 25 in southeast Grand Rapids. The tragic incident claimed the life of 12-year-old Shamiya Stewart, while her 7- and 10-year-old sisters managed to escape the flames through a window.
According to court records, Roconda Singleton, the girls’ mother, admitted to intentionally setting the fire. She has since been charged with murder, first-degree arson, and three counts of second-degree child abuse. If convicted, she faces a potential life sentence in prison.
In the wake of the fire, the community has come together to support the surviving girls. On Sunday morning, Lifequest Church, located on Fisk Street SE, served as a donation hub where residents contributed a wide range of items, including clothing, shoes, blankets, backpacks, school supplies, toys, and gift cards. Organizers reported that more than 100 items were collected to help the girls rebuild their lives after the devastating event.
Rev. Jerry Bishop, senior pastor at Lifequest Church, emphasized the importance of community support during such a traumatic time. “These girls’ lives have been turned upside down forever,” Bishop said. “We’re eight days into the journey of the rest of their life. Trauma manifests often times not immediately, but in cycles of growth, other crises. We don’t know what those triggers will be, but in the interim, as a community, we can be a bridge over troubled water to make the transition and healing significantly more rapid.”
One longtime church member, Leonora Pickett, who knows the girls through volunteering at their elementary school, expressed her devastation over the tragedy. “I’m devastated at what happened. I just hope their healing process goes smoothly. I just want to let them know they have our support,” Pickett said. She added that she hopes the donations provide the girls with a “restart” and help them rebuild after losing so much.
Rev. Bishop also noted plans to meet with the girls’ family to assess further needs, such as furniture and household items. He has encouraged anyone interested in donating additional items to reach out via email at lifequestgroup@aol.com.
As the community continues to support these young survivors, the hope is that through their collective efforts, the girls will begin the long journey of healing both physically and emotionally.
