Hundreds mourn three fire victims

Pain of loss grips family and friends of Petersburg children

BY DAVID RESS
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Jan 28, 2007

PETERSBURG -- Halfway through the funeral service for his sister, brother and cousin, 6-month-old Damon Hazer started crying.

But the infant was quickly quieted when his older sister, Yorel, who had rescued him from the flames that claimed the lives of three other children, took him in her arms.

Family, friends and hundreds of neighbors gathered yesterday to mourn the deaths of John Quinton Hazer, 16, Na'Tyah Hazer, 11, and Mark Banks Jr., 6. They died when a fire swept through the aging frame home shared by their mothers, Hope and Diamond Hazer, shortly after 2 a.m. on Jan. 12.

Two dozen wreaths in bright colors stretched across the front of the sanctuary at Good Shepherd Baptist Church -- purple letters on a pink ribbon for "Marky-Mark," pink roses framing a photo of a smiling Na'Tyah, and a crimson-and-gold Petersburg High School wrestling team shirt for John, who had won his first tournament victory just days be- fore his death.

"Let not your heart be troubled," read Talaya Rogers, from the Book of John. "I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

The choir, often swaying and at times clapping, sang of grace and belief in God. Church members, family and friends talked of the pain of loss and the struggle to understand.

John's grandmother, Gloria Allen, spoke of her pride in Yorel and cousin Michael, who escaped the fire. John was not so lucky.

"God has assured me that he is OK," Allen said.

Good Shepherd's pastor, the Rev. Jeffrey L. Reaves Sr., also sought to comfort family and friends by reminding them of Jesus' words that the kingdom of God belongs to them. He turned to the story about King David's fasting while his child was ailing and his acceptance of God's will after the child's death, and his knowledge that they would be reunited someday.

"The Bible tells that a little child shall lead us. But three children have led us," Reaves said. "They have led us to a place of sobriety, because we realize that life is a serious business. . . . The life and the deaths of these three precious children count for something. The real question is not why has he taken them; the real question is, 'Lord, why did you leave me?'"

Then, Reaves said perhaps God's purpose was to reach someone who had not heard his voice before. The pastor called for any such people to step forward and surrender their lives to God.

About a dozen people came forward, among them a woman in her 30s -- eyes glistening, pink burn scars on her face, both arms wrapped thickly in bandages above her elbows.

She was Diamond Hazer.

Contact staff writer David Ress at dress @timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6051.