JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Around 6:00AM Friday morning, Nedra Pepper and family watched the body of their loved one, 54 year-old Clark Wiley carried out of his home in a body bag.
"To know that you know he's in that bag that's the last time you'll see him come out of that house," said Pepper.
Wiley died after an early morning fire which started in his home. Wiley's friend Sharon Redwood, who was also in the house also died in the fire which started before 3:00AM Friday.
Officials with the Jackson Fire Department said the two friends were found in the kitchen.
"Through our investigation we found them lying on the floor," said Gregory Travis, the Chief Investigator of Arson and Internal Affairs for the Jackson Fire Department.
When family members received the call about the fire they immediately rushed to see if their worst nightmare had come true.
"We rushed over and tried calling and we got over here and saw his truck in the driveway and he never goes anywhere without his truck and he wasn't answering his phone," said Waynetta Wiley, one of Wiley's nieces.
Family members say Wiley had lived in his home for years. In fact, he was a handyman and had just recently completed renovations on the home by adding a bathroom, bedroom and extending the back of the house.
"It's horrible because he just finished putting the finishing touches on the house and just to know that we just saw him," said Waynetta.
Wiley's house which now looks like a burned frame was often a joyful meeting place for family to get together. Now, any future memories are now left in the ashes.
"It's not a good feeling it hurts, it hurts because you can't put any happiness on that," said Pepper.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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