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‘Bright, beautiful young lady’: Akron school mourns 8-year-old student who died in house fire, GoFundMe campaign to help pay funeral expenses

Roniah Boswell-Bartee was a student at Akron Preparatory School.

AKRON, Ohio — Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published on March 30, 2021.

8-year-old Roniah Boswell-Bartee is being remembered as a “bright, beautiful young lady full of joy in life.”

That tribute from Akron Preparatory School Principal Ashley Miles was part of a statement released Friday. It comes after Roniah lost her life early Tuesday morning in a house fire on 18th Street SW.

“She loved school,” the principal’s statement continued, explaining Roniah was a student there since kindergarten. “As a community we are mourning this loss along with the family.”

Miles said on-site counseling services are available for students and families at the school. For those asking how they can help the family, Miles suggests donating to a GoFundMe campaign that has been established in Roniah’s name, which was launched to help pay for funeral expenses. You can donate HERE.

RELATED: 8-year-old girl dies after being found in Akron house fire

Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published on March 30, 2021.

3News reported earlier this week that four adults and one other child were inside the home when the fire started. Everybody was able to evacuate the residence, except Roniah. She later died at a nearby hospital.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

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