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Death of mother and children in house fire a 'total shock' to neighbors 

The neighbors were able to convince the little girl to jump into their yard to safety as the house was destroyed by flames. Kennetha Gay, and two other children, 3-month-old Kenron Treadwell and 4-year-old Mirrisa Gay perished in the blaze. A 6-year-old boy walked out the back door unharmed.

Tina Tackett, another neighbor, said the deaths have rocked the normally quiet residential street in the city's east side. "They were some of the nicest, kindest people you'll ever meet in your life," Tackett said. "It's a total shock." . . .

Firefighters suspect Kennetha may have fallen asleep on a downstairs couch while smoking, sparking the blaze. She got out of the home only to run back inside to try to save her children. She couldn't escape the fire a second time.

Tacket and the Allens said the smoking scenario is uncharacteristic of Kennetha, who was a doting mother. "I don't believe it," said Janis Allen. "She was an excellent mother."

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