Praise Lemons was energetic and loving, and at two years old, she was the youngest of four children.
The little girl tragically died Friday night shortly after firefighters rescued Praise, her mother and sister from their burning apartment in the Maple Ridge complex in Pittsburgh’s East Hills neighborhood.
Arthur Jones lived across the hall from the family. He said he was heartbroken.
“She was a joy,” he said. “She was a light. She definitely made you smile. She was all of our favorite[s]. Everybody up here, that was our Praise. She was amazing, and she has her wings and she’s going be more amazing.”
Praise’s five-year-old sister is still in the hospital but has been upgraded to stable condition. Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said the children and their mother went to the hospital with burn injuries and smoke inhalation. The mother was treated and left the hospital a short time later.