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Mom struggles with daughter's death in fire days before Christmas

The body of Audrey Pernell, 36, was discovered while extinguishing a fire a 3522 Gazella Circle in the Lone Pine Mobile Home Park in Fayetteville around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, authorities said.

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A Fayetteville mother is trying to cope with the death of her daughter, whose body was found inside a mobile home following a fire Wednesday.

The body of Audrey Pernell, 36, was discovered while extinguishing a fire a 3522 Gazella Circle in the Lone Pine Mobile Home Park in Fayetteville around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, authorities said.

An investigation determined the fire was accidental and firefighters said the flames started in the kitchen.

Wednesday night, Audrey Pernell was coping with the loss of her daughter, who was the youngest of two children.

"Her smile, her laugh, she didn't know strangers anywhere. She was fun loving," said Linda Pernell. "Every time I think that she's never ever going to come over again or call me, I can't stop crying."

Audrey Pernell had recently enrolled at Fayetteville Tech and was working at Red Lobster to help pay her way through school.

Linda Pernell said the pain of losing her daughter is even greater knowing how much Audrey Pernell was looking forward to Christmas.

"She was very happy that she would have Christmas Day off for the first time in years and she'd be around family," said Linda Pernell.

Linda Pernell said she doesn't know how she is going to make it through the rest of the holiday season.

"I don't know if I can deal with Christmas without her or any other day without her. I need her to come back," she said.

Authorities said only one victim was found inside the mobile home. Linda Pernell said that her daughter's cat was killed in the fire as well. Firefighters were able to contain the fire before it spread to other mobile homes inside the park.

Officials said Cape Fear Valley EMS performed CPR and other advanced life saving measures on Audrey Pernell before she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Linda Pernell said the family is relying on other relatives and the kindness of strangers to give her daughter a proper burial.

Anybody interested in helping the family can contact family spokesperson Tyrone Williams at 910-977-7929, TyroneWilliams907@yahoo.com, or at 5851 Hibernia Drive in Fayetteville.

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