Fund raiser offers music to help family of tragic fire

The sounds of Southern Gospel echoed throughout Wilson Chapel on the campus of Maryville College recently when a fundraiser was held to benefit a Friendsville family who lost four children when fire destroyed their home on Feb. 6.

Several singers and acts gathered to sing and raise money to help Ross and Amanda Debuty and their 3-year-old son Raymond Debuty. Four of the couples five children died when fire destroyed their Miser Station Road home. Killed in the blaze were 14-year-old Mandy Mason, 12-year-old J.T. Debuty, 10-year-old Sinjin Smith and 7-year-old Shelby Debuty.

Ross and Amanda Debuty were able to get out of the wood-frame house with Raymond Debuty, 3. Since the tragedy, several events have been held to help the family. Law enforcement and fire personnel from throughout the area gathered at the Loudon-Blount county line and collected about $35,000 for the family. Recently Joseph Construction and a group of Blount County businesses announced a plan to build a home for the family using donated supplies and materials.

Darrell Watkins was on hand and got these pictures from the event.