Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 3-13-18

Feature
Daughter Of Community Advocates Identified In Fatal Fire
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last Thursday morning, a fire at an East Tampa home claimed the life of its occupant. The fire took place at 3405 E. Fern Street.
Police have identified the victim as Ms. Valarie Fleming, 57, who lived at that address.
Ms. Fleming was the only child of Levi and Ruth Fleming. She at- tended the public schools of Hillsborough County until she entered 9th grade, her mother said.
She continued her edu- cation at Berkley Prep High School. Ms. Fleming wanted to work in the me- dical field so she enrolled at Brewster Technical Col- lege, where she earned her CNA credentials.
Ms. Fleming obtained
This home at 3405 E. Fern was the location of a fatal fire last Thursday.
“We called each other Baby Boo,” she said.
Four Tampa Police offi- cers were already on the scene when firefighters ar- rived. The officers went into the burning structure and located Ms. Fleming inside.
Three of the officers were treated and released from Tampa General Hos- pital with minor injuries. The fourth officer was treated at the scene.
The Arson Task Force was notified as is standard protocol when a person dies in a fire.
The cause of the fire has been attributed to smoking material that had not been extinguished, officials said.
Funeral services for
Ms. Valarie Fleming
were incomplete at press time. Ray Williams is in charge of handling arrangements.
employment at South Care Rehabilitation Center, where she worked for more than 30 years. She was re- tired at the time of her death.
The Fleming family is well known in East Tampa
for their involvement in the Neighborhood Watch Pro- gram.
Ms. Fleming said, “She was a very kind and loving person who loved her family.
“We ate together each
day and we spent a lot of time at her house. She was soft-spoken and kind. She will be missed.
Ms. Fleming further said, one of the things she and her daughter shared was a term of endearment.
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