Toddlers burnt in house fire laid to rest

An atmosphere of sadness filled the compound and surroundings of the Wesleyan Holiness Church in Georgetown on Saturday, November 8, 2024, as the funeral service for two toddlers was held.

Siblings, three-year-old Deira Peters and her one-year-old brother, Deron Jr Peters, were victims of a fire which destroyed the dwelling house in which they lived at Langley Park, Georgetown on October 23, 2024.

The charred remains of the children were reportedly found near to a bed in the burnt out house, where they lived with their father, Deron Peters and other family members.

At the funeral service on Saturday, a single sealed casket bore the mortal remains of the adorable children.

The casket was adorned with photos of their once happy faces.

A framed photograph of each child was also placed on the casket before the start of the funeral.

Unable to contain his emotions, the children’s father, Deron Peters, hugged the photographs and then removed them. He then went outside the church and sat on a step.

With tears rolling down his cheeks, he looked at each photo, muttered inaudibly, and continued to cry as he kissed the framed photos.

Deron regained some composure as the service progressed, and stoically delivered the eulogy for his children.

Reflecting on their short, but active lives, the father eulogized his children, without the use of any prepared notes. Recalling how much they wanted their son ‘DJ’, and how the baby was named after him, Peters said “this youth man was like actual me”.

He spoke of having a lot of fond memories of his children, but said since their passing, all that remains is “just an empty shell”.

“Every single day, they used to tell me they love me, they were my pride and joy.

“They made me so happy,” Peters said as he remembered Deira ‘Lil D’, and her brother, Deron ‘DJ Peters.

As the funeral service neared its end several relatives had to be lifted out of the church as they screamed and wailed for the two little ones who many have said are gone too soon.