Reeba Glass managed a smile this morning, thankful for the prayers and support from family, neighbors and others. But her heart was heavy, filled with grief.

The 28-year-old Conyers mother lost four of her five children on Tuesday night in a fire that trapped the family while they were sleeping on the second floor of their duplex. She was able to reach and save one child—6-year-old Darnell Glass—by dropping him from a window, according to Rosetta Mitchell, the grandmother, who also survived the fire.

“She (Glass) was awake and somewhat cheerful and talkative this morning,” said Billie Cox, the family’s pastor and head of Macedonia Baptist Church in Conyers. “They were discussing when they would start removing the bandages. It’s going to be a painful ordeal, a long road to recovery.”

Cox said she visited Glass today (Jan. 10) around 7 a.m. at Grady Memorial Hospital, where Glass is being treated for severe burns to her forehead, arms, stomach, back and legs. She held Glass’ fingertips as she comforted her. The youngest of the victims was Glass’s 7-month-old baby—a son. She lost a 9-year-old daughter and two other sons ages 7 and 3.

Neighbors in the Pinedale community held a prayer vigil for the family on Wednesday. They made a makeshift memorial of teddy bears and balloons.

Cox said 6-year-old Darnell, who survived the fire, visited his mother on Wednesday and the reunion was “emotional.”

“He was asking about getting some of his toys to give to his brothers and sister. He just thinks there was a fire. He doesn’t really understand what happened,” Cox said. “When it was time for them (Darnell and his mom) to say goodbye, it was really emotional. There were a lot of tears.”

Darnell is staying with relatives in Atlanta. The grandmother is working on getting an apartment for herself, Glass, and the boy. The family was packing and planning to move on Wednesday before the fire took place. The family lost nearly all of their possessions in the fire. The Red Cross has provided gift cards to assist them with essentials, said Cox. Clerk of Courts Ruth Wilson and her staff are donating $1,500 to a memorial fund set up at Wells Fargo Bank to help the family.

Meanwhile, authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire. They have determined the fire started in an upstairs bathroom and hallway area. Coroner George Levett said the children’s bodies were badly burned. The medical examiner is performing autopsies and reports will be released to the family, Levett said.

A community prayer vigil will be held for the Glass family tonight, 7:30, at Macedonia Baptist Church, 1052 Barton St., Conyers. A memorial service will be held at the church on Saturday, Jan. 19, 11 a.m.

How You Can Help

A memorial fund has been set up for the Glass family at Wells Fargo Bank. Monetary contributions may be made there.

Gift cards for necessities and new clothes and shoes for the survivors may be dropped off at On Common Ground News, 1240 Sigman Road, Suite 107, Conyers. New toys and books suitable for 6-year-old Darnell Glass also are welcomed. For more information, call 678-526-1910.