A Spalding County community attended a candlelight vigil for a 6-year-old boy who died in a house fire Friday morning.
Franklin Freeman Jr, known as "Frankie," is being remembered as a playful, happy boy who loved playing in the family's yard.
His mother, Lisa Freeman, says her son loved to laugh.
"He'd do anything to make you laugh," she said. "Frankie loved his dogs."
All but one of the family's pets died in the fire as well.
Fire investigators say there was an electrical malfunction near a microwave that sparked the fire.
Frankie's 14-year-old stepbrother Joey was hanging from a back window when neighbors pulled him to safety. He wanted to go back inside, he said at the vigil, but there was too much black smoke.
Freeman was receiving treatment at a hospital at the time of the fire and her husband was running a quick errand, according to neighbors.
Saturday night's vigil was about supporting Frankie's parents during their time of need.
"It makes me know that I'm not alone," Freeman said, "[and] that people care."
Several community members have also come forward in a big financial way as well.
"Little Frankie will have a proper funeral free of charge to the family so they don't have that burden riding on their shoulders," said Kelli Foulkerson with the Spalding County Sheriff's Department.
Freeman, fighting back tears, expressed her gratitude for her community.
"Thank you so much for the help you've given me and the support," she said. "Our family greatly appreciates it."
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