CHARLOTTE — Almost 200 people squeezed into the small auditorium of Covenant Presbyterian Church to say their final goodbyes to Demonte Sherill, one of the two men killed in the deadly fire at an under-construction apartment complex in South Park.
Sherill’s life was cut short at just 30 years old, but during that time he influenced many.
During the fire, Sherill filmed a frantic Facebook Live, begging for any kind of help. Channel 9′s Glenn Counts spoke with Sherill’s uncle, Pastor William Eddleman, who believes his nephew didn’t die alone.
”I can’t let you go through this stuff that you are facing right now; come on, that earthly part of you may deal with it, but that part of you that is eternal and going to be with me forever has got to get out of here,” Eddleman said.
Sherill was married, but his family says his wife passed away from COVID-19 about two years ago. He then began raising his four children as a single father with help from his kids’ grandmother. Harriett Davis, Sherill’s aunt, remembered her nephew’s care for others.
”We knew this was a kid who was always respectful, even when he was wrong,” Davis said.
Sherill had two daughters and two sons between the ages of 5 and 13; his hope was to put all four through college.
Pastor Eddleman decided to look at the situation in a more positive light. He hopes that the loss and destruction that happened during the SouthPark fire will inspire change within the construction industry to stop another family from going through the same pain
.Just over two weeks after they lost Sherill, his family is facing a new challenge. They believe some people are trying to raise money in Sherill’s name without the family’s blessing.
”The mother wanted me to say that we don’t want people taking advantage of the situation,” Eddleman told Counts.
Two GoFundMe links have been approved by Sherill’s family. If you would like to donate, click here.
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