Family and Friends Remember Three That Perished in Fire

By Christina Georgiou

The hundreds of people who attended a memorial service for James
Strickland, Joy Lozier, and Makai Peters, all of who died as a result of an
apartment fire this past Monday, stream from Green Pastures Community
Church after the service Friday evening.

More than 500 people flocked to Green Pastures Community Church Friday evening for a memorial service honoring James Strickland, 25, Joy Lozier, 24, and Lozier's four-year-old son Makai Peters, who were killed as a result of the apartment fire that occurred just blocks away this past Monday.

A number of mourners were wearing t-shirts bearing the images of the three with the words "In Loving Memory" emblazoned on them, and many guests paused when entering the church to view a number of photo collages of Strickland, and Lozier with her son Makai, with some visibly in tears.

Click on any image for a better view

After a brief reading of scripture and the singing of "Amazing Grace", several of those closest to the three spoke to the crowd about the lives of those who were lost.

"He'd give you the shirt off his back," Strickland's brother Corey said.

"I love you," he added, obviously to grieved to say more.

Another of Strickland's brothers echoed the sentiment.

"My brother would have given you anything," he said, noting that Strickland tried to take care of those he loved. "He gave his life for another life."

Strickland's brothers all noted his generous nature.

He added, "We all got to take care of ourselves and each other, and that's all I have to say. I love you, James."

"He would have given anything for anybody," said a third brother. "He loved much. He was so kind. I loved my brother...Life is so short...he lived every day to the fullest."

Turning to the loss of Lozier, he said, "She tried to save her child from the fire too. She was close to our family...she helped them a lot.

"Life is too short for all the problems. We've got to help one another," he concluded. "I'm trying to stay strong for my family."



Jason Soto, who lived next door to Lozier and helped her surviving son to safety, said he only knew her and her children as neighbors, but in the past few days, he's gotten to know those close to her and considers them family.

"Whenever I saw Joy, she always had a smile on her face," he said. "You could just see that there was love in that house."

"James may not have had very long, but he's with his son now," Soto said, referring to Strickland's son Elijah. "Joy, she's with her lover, and her son. And, on the day we're all called home, we'll see them again, and they'll be waiting for us."

At the conclusion of the service, the director of Wilson Borough Childcare Center, Cynthia McCrae, announced the child care center had awarded a full scholarship to Gregory Jackson, Lozier's surviving son for day care, that will extend as before- and after-school care through his elementary school years.

The gift was presented in honor of Makai, McCrae said.

"We all loved Makai so very much. Joy and Makai will truly be missed by us all," she said. "We know this will not take away the pain...but we hope this will help in some small way."

The announcement was met with applause.

Before calling for the end of the memorial, Green Pastures Senior Pastor Don Griffin told guests to hold onto their faith, despite their pain and loss.

"From the moment we heard of the deaths of James and Joy and Makai, our hearts began to ache, and truthfully, they have not stopped aching yet," said Griffin. "The world is not the way it was intended to be."

Memorial Service to Honor Three Who Died in Apartment Fire

Joy Lozier, her four-year-old son Makai Peters, and cousin James Strickland will be remembered and honored this Friday evening at the Green Pastures Community Church, 28 North 10th St. at 6 p.m., it was announced last evening.

All three died as the result of a fire that broke out in Lozier's upper-floor apartment early Monday morning on the 700 block of Spring Garden Street.

Ashton Funeral Home, which is handling the arrangements for the family, has also released obituaries for the three, which can be viewed below.

Online condolences may be left at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com, and memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042.

Makai James Peters   

Makai James Peters, 4, of Easton died Monday, Sept. 30, 2013 the result of a fire in his home.

Born May 14, 2009 in Easton, he was a son of Michael Peters and the late Joy Ann Lozier, who also died a result of the fire.

He is survived by his father; brother Gregory Jackson; half brother Malakai Peters; grandmother  Francilia Peters-Barnes; grandfather Andre VanValen; great-grandmother Helen Lozier and great-grandfather: Leroy Peters, Sr.

Joy Ann Lozier 

Joy Ann Lozier, 24, of Easton died Monday, Sept. 30, 2013 in Lehigh Valley Hospital following a fire in her home.

Born April 25, 1989 in Easton, she was a daughter of Rickie Lindsey and the late Charlette (Lozier) Eryilmaz.

A hard working young mother, she had been employed by Dunkin’ Donuts at their Easton locations and prior to that by the Easton Nursing Center.

She is survived by her father; a son Gregory Jackson; brother Cary Lozier; sisters Javona Bivins and Fatma Eryilmaz; grandmother: Helen Lozier; companion Gregory Jackson, and many extended family members. Her son Makai Peters also died as a result of the fire.

James L. Strickland

James L. Strickland, 25, of Wilson Borough died Monday, September 30, 2013 in Easton the result of  a fire.

Born December 29, 1987 in Easton, he was a son of Sarah Jean Werkheiser and the late Dave Strickland.

He was a stay-at-home dad who loved fishing.

He is survived by his mother; children James, Jr., Cameron, Josiah and Treasure; brothers Salaam, Dave and Rashon; grandmother: Helen Lozier; fiance Nicole Liberti, and many extended family. He was predeceased by a son, Elijah.

Collections to Benefit Fire Victims' Families

By Christina Georgiou

Cash donations are being collected by Joy Lozier's co-workers at two Easton
Dunkin' Donuts locations--on Centre Square and also at the Philadelphia
Road location in the city's South Side neighborhood. Money collected
will go towards offsetting funeral and other expenses.

The deaths of Joy Lozier, 24, her young son Makai Peters, 4, and Lozier's cousin James Strickland in a fast-moving apartment fire early Monday morning in the Easton's West Ward have left many city residents shaking their heads at the senselessness of the tragedy, but others' first instinct is to help in whatever way they can.

Lozier's co-workers at Dunkin' Donuts on Centre Square are taking donations that will benefit her surviving son, thought to be under 2 years old, and also help family members deal with expenses related to the tragedy.

Dunkin' Donuts on Phildelphia Road in South Side Easton is similarly collecting funds, and the head manager of the Centre Square location has also reportedly donated $1,000 to the cause, a Downtown store employee said on Tuesday.

He's also contacting Dunkin' Donuts corporate headquarters to see if the company might sponsor a more formal campaign to benefit Lozier's surviving son, she said.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized or announced, but the three are likely to be laid to rest some time later this week, said Ashton Funeral Home director Debra Jo Ashton-Chase.

Ashton Funeral Home is donating its services, but there will still be bills to pay related to the funerals, Ashton-Chase said, including covering cemetery costs.

And, in addition to the pain of losing their loved ones, family members will be supporting the other three fire survivors.

"They're still going to have bills to pay," Ashton-Chase said.

While a formal account has not yet been set up for community members that wish to contribute to offset expenses and to benefit Lozier's surviving baby son, that is likely to happen soon, she said.

Money donated to such a fund will likely be earmarked to go toward the young boy's education, Ashton-Chase added.

In the meantime, those that wish to make a memorial contribution can do so in care of Ashton Funeral Home, she said.

Ashton Funeral Home can be reached at 610-253-4678.