{"id":2385079,"date":"2024-12-31T14:11:02","date_gmt":"2024-12-31T19:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heartbreak-man-dies-in-christmas-day-fire-trying-to-save-engagement-ring-for-upcoming-proposal\/"},"modified":"2024-12-31T14:12:19","modified_gmt":"2024-12-31T19:12:19","slug":"heartbreak-man-dies-in-christmas-day-fire-trying-to-save-engagement-ring-for-upcoming-proposal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heartbreak-man-dies-in-christmas-day-fire-trying-to-save-engagement-ring-for-upcoming-proposal\/","title":{"rendered":"Heartbreak: Man Dies in Christmas Day Fire, Trying to Save Engagement Ring for Upcoming Proposal"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fheartbreak-man-dies-in-christmas-day-fire-trying-to-save-engagement-ring-for-upcoming-proposal%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2385079&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A tragic\u2062 Christmas celebration turned into\u2063 a devastating event for a family in Oakland, California, when \u200ca house fire broke out early on Christmas morning, claiming the life of one \u200bfamily member, Steven Weatherford Jr., 37. \u200bWeatherford \u200bheroically rescued several \u2062relatives, including his \u2064father, \u200caunt, and \u2064brother, \u2062before returning into the house\u2062 in search of an \u200cengagement \u2062ring he intended to propose \u2062with \u200con New Year\u2019s Eve. Sadly, he succumbed to smoke inhalation before firefighters arrived.His \u2064girlfriend, LaShante\u2062 Mayo, expressed her grief, recalling\u2062 Weatherford\u2062 as \u200ba loving \u200dperson who prioritized his family. The community has rallied support for\u200d the family through a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/if-you-dont-think-using-gorilla-glue-as-hair-spray-is-stupid-youre-part-of-the-problem\/\" title=\"If You Don\u2019t Think Using \u2018Gorilla Glue\u2019 As Hair Spray Is Stupid, You\u2019re Part Of The Problem\">gofundme campaign<\/a>\u2062 to cover\u200b funeral \u200bexpenses, highlighting their reputation as a warm and kind family in the neighborhood.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A family Christmas celebration turned tragic after a house fire killed one family member.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/camera-catches-arsonist-sets-wrong-thing-fire-pants-goes-streaking-night\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fire<\/a> began at around 6:00 a.m. on Christmas morning at a family home in Oakland, California, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ktvu.com\/news\/man-dies-oakland-christmas-fire-after-rescuing-family\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KTVU-TV<\/a>&nbsp;reported.<\/p>\n<p>Steven Weatherford Jr., 37, sprang into action &mdash; reportedly saving his father, aunt, and brother, who had all gathered at the house to celebrate the holiday.<\/p>\n<p>Jerry Weatherford, Steven&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-begged-family-member-to-watch-yourself-in-business-dealings-report\/\" title=\"Biden Begged Family Member To \u2018Watch Yourself\u2019 In Business Dealings: Report\">younger brother<\/a>, recalled that he woke up to smoke coming from under the TV and moments later an entire wall was on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/faithful-become-teary-eyed-approach-wooden-cross-raging-wildfire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fire<\/a>, per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/30\/us\/oakland-christmas-house-fire-death.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The New York Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While the younger Weatherford sounded the alarm as he ran out of the house, his older brother raced upstairs to wake up their other family members.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I kept screaming for my brother to come out, and he just didn&rsquo;t come out,&rdquo; Jerry Weatherford said. &ldquo;He was a hero. He saved their lives.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The family celebrated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/stranger-finds-2-brothers-playing-music-earn-money-gives-christmas-never-forget\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christmas<\/a> together every year and had been up until 3:00 a.m. enjoying their time together.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-francis-cancels-travel-plans-due-to-acute-gonalgia\/\" title=\"Pope Francis Cancels Travel Plans Due to \u2018Acute Gonalgia\u2019\">yearly celebration<\/a>. And when I say yearly, I mean going on for 40, 50 years,&rdquo; explained Eunice Smith, Weatherford&rsquo;s aunt, KTVU reported. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not one of those things where it&rsquo;s every other year.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">An Oakland hero. Prayers for the family and friends of Steven Weatherford <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Seepd1ymsj\">https:\/\/t.co\/Seepd1ymsj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Charlotte Buchen Khadra (@netvids) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/netvids\/status\/1873950495985066268?\">December 31, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>After saving his family members, Weatherford remained in the home, searching for an engagement ring he had bought for his girlfriend, LaShante Mayo.<\/p>\n<p>The Oakland Fire Department responded to the incident at 6:15 a.m. and upon entering the residence came across the unconscious body of Weatherford, who was nicknamed &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">gummy bear&#038;rdquo<\/a>; for his affectionate personality.<\/p>\n<p>Fire officials believe that Weatherford inhaled too much smoke, leading to his death.<\/p>\n<p>Weatherford had only recently bought the engagement ring and was planning to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/hannity-goes-public-christmas-engagement-fox-star-beautiful-couple\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">propose<\/a> on New Year&rsquo;s Eve.<\/p>\n<p>Mayo described her boyfriend as &ldquo;truly the best person you could ever meet.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He loved his family, his friends, everybody so much. He died trying to get them out of the house,&rdquo; an emotional Mayo said shortly after the fire.<\/p>\n<p>It wasn&rsquo;t until after the Christmas Day tragedy that Mayo even learned of the impending proposal.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He was going to propose, yeah,&rdquo; Mayo said. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know. They told me this morning. &hellip;I had given up on love until I had met him.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Residents of the neighborhood where the fire took place have created a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/community-aid-for-steves-loss-and-grief\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GoFundMe page<\/a>&nbsp;&ldquo;to help cover the costs of immediate financial needs and Steve Jr&rsquo;s memorial service.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>According to the account page, Weatherford&rsquo;s father, Steven Weatherford Sr., &ldquo;already endured immense heartbreak in the recent past when his wife passed away a few years ago.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;All of the neighbor&rsquo;s know the Weatherfords to be a lovely, kind and warm family. They have lived in the neighborhood for over 40 years and Steve Jr. grew up on the block.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;No one should have to bear the weight of such sorrow alone, especially during the holidays.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A family&#8217;s Christmas gathering turned deadly when a house fire claimed the life of one member. The blaze started around 6:00 a.m. on Christmas morning in Oakland, California, as reported by KTVU-TV. Steven Weatherford Jr., 37, acted quickly to rescue his father, aunt, and brother who were celebrating together. Jerry Weatherford, Steven&#8217;s younger brother, recounted waking up to smoke under the TV and soon saw an entire wall engulfed in flames. While he alerted others and escaped the house, Steven rushed upstairs to wake their relatives. &#8220;I kept yelling for my brother to come out; he just didn\u2019t,&#8221; Jerry said. &#8220;He was a hero who saved their lives.&#8221; The family had been celebrating together until 3:00 a.m., marking an annual tradition that has lasted for decades according to Eunice Smith, Weatherford\u2019s aunt.<\/p>\n<p>After ensuring his family was safe, Steven went back inside searching for an engagement ring he had purchased for his girlfriend LaShante Mayo. The Oakland Fire Department arrived at 6:15 a.m., finding him unconscious inside; officials believe he succumbed to smoke inhalation. He had recently bought the ring with plans to propose on New Year\u2019s Eve.<\/p>\n<p>Mayo described him as \u201ctruly the best person you could ever meet,\u201d expressing her heartbreak over losing someone who loved his family deeply while trying to save them from danger. She only learned about his proposal plans after the tragedy occurred.<\/p>\n<p>In response to this devastating event, neighbors have set up a GoFundMe page aimed at assisting with immediate financial needs and memorial expenses for Steve Jr., noting that his father has already faced significant loss with the passing of his wife years prior. Community members remember the Weatherfords as kind-hearted individuals who have lived in their neighborhood for over four decades and emphasize that no one should endure such grief alone during holiday times<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2385080,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Christmas-Fire.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[47668,47669,18077,6176,13242],"class_list":["post-2385079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-christmas-fire","tag-engagement-ring","tag-heartbreak","tag-heroism","tag-tragedy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Christmas-Fire.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2385079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2385079"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2385079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2385083,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2385079\/revisions\/2385083"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2385080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2385079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2385079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2385079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}