It was supposed to be a night of gratitude, warmth, and togetherness—an evening when families across the country gathered to give thanks for life’s simple blessings. But for the Fleury family, Thanksgiving 2025 would forever be etched into their hearts, not as a celebration of abundance, but as a night marked by sacrifice, bravery, and a loss that words can barely express.
Frantzia Fleury, the eldest daughter at forty-nine, was the quiet protector of her family. A former Marine, she carried herself with the steady calm of someone who had faced life’s harshest trials and emerged stronger for it. Even after leaving the service, she dedicated her life to helping others, working as a radiologic technologist—an occupation rooted in compassion, precision, and service.
Her younger sister, forty-two-year-old Pojanee, was a different kind of force. Creative, bright, and brimming with a fire that radiated from the very core of her being, Pojanee wrote, published, and created. She founded Brown Eyez Magazine to celebrate African American artistry, wellness, and community strength. Where Frantzia was steady, Pojanee was the spark. Together, they formed the perfect balance—one an anchor, the other the vibrant energy that lifted everyone around her.
Both were mothers. Both were daughters. Both carried the weight of their family with a quiet pride, never asking for recognition, simply giving everything they had for the ones they loved. And on that fateful night, both would give their lives—without hesitation—for the man who had given them theirs.
The fire that would claim the sisters’ lives began just after 5 p.m. on November 26. A sudden flash. A crackle. Then, a roar. Neighbors later described it as though the house was consumed by flames in an instant. Smoke poured from windows, glass shattered, and the fire, fueled by the November wind, spread uncontrollably, a monster too ferocious to battle.
Inside the home, their disabled father was trapped. His limited mobility and compromised breathing left him unable to escape. But his daughters, ever the protectors, wouldn’t leave him behind. They reached him. They guided him through the burning doorway, shielding him from the falling debris and choking smoke. Together, they managed to get him outside, along with six other people. Seven lives saved because Frantzia and Pojanee refused to leave anyone behind.
But the fire was merciless. When the sisters turned back—whether to check for others or simply overwhelmed by the smoke—something catastrophic happened. A collapse. A wave of heat. A wall of fire too powerful to push through. When firefighters arrived, it was already too late.
At 6:45 p.m., both Frantzia and Pojanee were pronounced dead.
News of their deaths rippled through the community like a shockwave. Friends, co-workers, neighbors—people who had known the sisters for years, and even those who had only shared fleeting moments with them, felt the loss deeply. The Fleurys were the kind of family that left a lasting impression. A cousin, reflecting on the tragedy, wrote online: “They had the biggest hearts you could ever imagine.” The cousin was at a loss, unsure how their father, recovering in the hospital, could ever understand the magnitude of what had happened: how his daughters had died saving him.
There were no easy answers, only heartbreak. Neighbors, stunned by the loss, stood outside the charred remains of the house, staring at the destruction, unable to make sense of it. “They were really nice,” said Matthew Mehr, who lived nearby. “Super friendly. The kind of people you expect to see smiling on their porch. This… this just doesn’t feel real.”.
Another neighbor, Justin McDaniel, recalled childhood memories. “One of the daughters used to babysit me,” he said, his voice trembling. “They’ve always been good people. They didn’t deserve this. No one deserves this.” But, as often happens in life, tragedy chooses no favorites.
In the days that followed, memorials for Frantzia and Pojanee poured in from every corner of the community. Colleagues of Pojanee from the African Immigrants Commission of New York and Connecticut released a statement praising her as “a selfless leader” and “a dedicated community servant,” remembering the people she had helped, the programs she had built, and the cultural bridges she had forged. The loss of Pojanee, they said, was felt not only personally but across the community.
Frantzia’s colleagues at the hospital lit candles in her honor, remembering the Marine veteran with a gentle laugh who had always held patients’ hands in their moments of fear. The daughter who never missed a Thanksgiving with her father, no matter how busy her schedule became. Just days earlier, she had shared an old Thanksgiving photo with him, captioned simply: “Daddy’s girl.” No one knew that would be her last.
A week later, a vigil was held. People gathered with candles, flowers, and memories. They stood in the cold November air, their breath fogging in the silence as they prayed, cried, and remembered the two sisters who had lived with such purpose and left behind a legacy of love. A pastor spoke at the vigil, saying, “Bravery takes many forms.” And on that Thanksgiving night, two ordinary women performed an extraordinary act of love.
“The greatest love,” the pastor continued softly, “is to lay down one’s life for another.”.
There were no words strong enough to comfort their mother, who stood wrapped in a blanket, pale and grief-stricken, surrounded by her family. Her daughters had died saving her husband, and no one knew how to ease the pain of such an unimaginable loss.
The family’s grief was compounded by the slow recovery of their father in the hospital. He frequently asked for his daughters, unaware of their fate. The doctors and nurses, unsure of how much he could bear, carefully chose their words, letting him rest and preparing for the inevitable moment when they would have to tell him the truth.
Thanksgiving will never be the same for the Fleury family. The day once filled with abundance and gratitude has now become a reminder of two sisters who chose love over fear, duty over safety, and sacrifice over survival.
Their story is not just a tragedy—it is a testament to the power of love, sacrifice, and the quiet courage of two women who chose to put family first, even at the cost of their own lives. Their legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew them, in every memory shared, and in every life they touched.
Frantzia and Pojanee Fleury may have been taken too soon, but their legacy of bravery, love, and selflessness will endure forever.
Firefighters Bring Cake, Not Sirens: Celebrating Mrs. Marksbury’s 100th Birthday.469.
Firefighters are used to answering calls for help, rushing into situations that demand their courage, skill, and quick thinking. But this time, Station 181 received a call of a different kind—a call for celebration, not emergency response.
Mrs. Marksbury had been part of their lives for years, and not in the usual way. Over the years, the fire crews had been called to her home more than a few times, each time for a different reason, but every single time she greeted them with warmth and gratitude. Whether it was a small fire, a medical emergency, or a simple safety check, Mrs. Marksbury never failed to show her appreciation. A smile, a thank you, and often a cup of tea or a plate of cookies, she treated them like family.
Last week, during a routine visit to check on her, the firefighters had a brief chat with Mrs. Marksbury. As they talked, she casually mentioned that a significant milestone was approaching. “I’ll be turning 100 soon,” she said with a twinkle in her eye, as if reaching that age was just another day. The firefighters paused. A hundred years? It was not every day they heard someone say that. They were struck by her resilience, her kindness, and the sense of calm that came with her age. But they also knew this was a moment they couldn’t let pass by unnoticed.
The crew gathered together, discussing how they could honor Mrs. Marksbury’s incredible milestone. They couldn’t just let the day go by like any other. After all, she had shown them kindness in every encounter, and this was their chance to give something back.
Instead of the usual emergency gear, they decided to show up at her door with something much sweeter—a cake. Not just any cake, but a beautiful, frosted creation with candles and all the festive touches that celebrated her life. They made sure everything was perfect, from the decorations to the card they included, wishing her a happy 100th birthday. They couldn’t wait to see the smile on her face when she realized what was happening.
On the day of the celebration, Station 181 pulled up to Mrs. Marksbury’s home, not with flashing sirens or rushing to a fire, but with a big, happy surprise. When Mrs. Marksbury answered the door, she looked up in delight at the sight of the crew standing there, not in their usual uniforms, but holding a cake and singing “Happy Birthday.” Her eyes lit up, and the gratitude she had always shown them over the years was returned tenfold.
“Happy 100th, Mrs. Marksbury!” they cheered in unison, making the moment even more special. She laughed, a joyous sound that rang through the air, and said, “Well, this is certainly a surprise! I never thought I’d see the day when the fire department showed up with cake!”.
For the next few hours, they all sat together, sharing stories, laughter, and a piece of cake. It was a celebration of life, of kindness, and of the unexpected friendships that blossom in the most unlikely places. Mrs. Marksbury, surrounded by the people who had cared for her and her home over the years, felt an overwhelming sense of love and appreciation.
As the firefighters left, they could see the joy in her eyes. She had always shown them kindness and gratitude, and now, they had returned it in full measure. It was a reminder that sometimes, the most meaningful calls are not the ones where lives are saved in the traditional sense, but the ones that celebrate life itself.
“Love this!!” the post read, as it spread across social media, with people far and wide sending their own birthday wishes to Mrs. Marksbury. In a world where headlines often focus on the struggles and challenges, this small but significant act of kindness reminded everyone that there is always room for joy, love, and celebration.
Happy 100th birthday, Mrs. Marksbury! 🎉❤️.