92-Year-Old Serina Lofton Remembered After Devastating Quincy House Fire Claims Her Life
QUINCY, FLORIDA — The Quincy community is grappling with profound grief following a tragic house fire that claimed the life of 92-year-old Serina Lofton, a longtime resident known for her gentle spirit, resilience, and deep ties to her neighborhood. The fire broke out late Monday night, October 27, 2025, at her home in the 800 block of West Clark Street, a quiet residential area where Serina had lived for decades.
According to officials with the Quincy Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched around 9:15 p.m. after multiple 911 calls reported flames engulfing the small single-story home. When the first units arrived, the structure was already fully ablaze — every window illuminated by orange light, flames shooting through the roof, and smoke pouring into the night sky.
Fire Chief Terrance Holloway described the scene as one of the most intense residential fires his department has faced this year. “When we arrived, the fire had already spread throughout the house,” Holloway said. “We immediately began suppression efforts, but the heat and structural instability made interior access nearly impossible at first.”
Despite their best efforts, it took nearly four hours to fully extinguish the fire. When crews were finally able to enter the smoldering remains of the home, they discovered Serina Lofton’s body in a back bedroom. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are now jointly investigating the cause of the blaze. As of Tuesday morning, authorities had not determined whether the home had functional smoke detectors or what exactly may have sparked the inferno. Investigators have not ruled out any possibilities, from electrical failure to accidental ignition.
Neighbors who had lived alongside Serina for years watched in horror as the fire consumed the home. Marie Daniels, who lived across the street, described the heartbreaking scene. “It all happened so fast,” Daniels said. “By the time we saw the flames, the house was already glowing red. We prayed she’d gotten out, but deep down, we knew she probably hadn’t.”
Friends and family have since shared memories of Serina as a woman of remarkable warmth and quiet strength. A retired seamstress and lifelong Florida resident, she was known in her community for her kindness, independence, and unshakable faith. Despite her age, she insisted on living in her own home, surrounded by the memories of a lifetime spent raising her family and serving her church.
“She loved that house,” said her niece Carol Lofton, her voice heavy with emotion. “It was more than just walls — it was where she built her life. We only wish we could’ve been there to help her.”
Community members are now rallying around the Lofton family, offering prayers and assistance as they navigate their grief. The Quincy Fire Department has urged residents to use this tragedy as a reminder to check smoke alarms, review fire safety plans, and ensure that elderly relatives have easy access to emergency exits.
Fire Chief Holloway echoed that message, saying, “This was a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly a fire can spread, especially in older homes. We encourage everyone to make sure their detectors are working and to look out for their elderly neighbors.”
Plans for Serina Lofton’s funeral service are currently being arranged by her family. She is remembered as a woman whose life radiated compassion and grace — a neighbor who never forgot a birthday, a friend who always had a kind word, and an aunt whose laughter filled every room she entered.
Her passing leaves behind a deep void in the Quincy community, where she will be remembered not for how she left, but for how she lived: with humility, love, and unwavering faith.
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