NEWBERRY COUNTY, S.C. — April Nicole Sutton Long and Leroy Seegers
The quiet rhythm of life in Silverstreet was shaken to its core when an early-morning house fire claimed the lives of two well-known residents, leaving neighbors, friends, and family members struggling to process an immense loss. The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office and local fire crews responded swiftly once the emergency call came in, but by the time the flames were controlled, the devastation inside the home was unmistakable.
Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece later identified the victims as 44-year-old April Nicole Sutton Long and 73-year-old Leroy Seegers, both long-time members of the Silverstreet community. Their names carried weight—symbols of familiar faces, familiar voices, and familiar kindnesses that formed the everyday fabric of a rural town where people know one another not by proximity but by shared years, shared stories, and shared care.
The fire, which tore through the residence with alarming speed, is still under investigation. Fire officials are working alongside state and county agencies to determine exactly how the blaze began and what circumstances led to the fatal outcome. While investigators piece together the timeline, residents continue to revisit the night mentally, asking one another the same quiet questions: what happened, how quickly did it unfold, and could anything have changed the ending? These questions linger heavily in the town’s conversations, even though answers may take time.
April Long was known for her energy, her laugh, and her steady dedication to those she loved. Friends recall how she showed up—reliably, warmly, without hesitation—whenever someone needed a hand. Leroy Seegers, older and gentle-voiced, was respected as a man who valued routine, patience, and neighborly goodwill. To lose each of them would have been a blow; to lose them together leaves a deeper ache.
In the days following the tragedy, the Silverstreet community has responded in the way small communities always do—with casseroles, prayer circles, long hugs, and quiet check-ins. The porch lights that usually glow simply out of habit are now shining for a different purpose: as symbols of support, remembrance, and unity. Local churches have opened their doors for counseling and gathering spaces, giving residents somewhere to speak their grief aloud. Tributes online and in person describe April and Leroy not just by the facts of their lives, but by the warmth they carried into every interaction.
Authorities have encouraged anyone with information or nearby camera footage to come forward, emphasizing that even small details might help them piece together the exact cause of the fire. For now, the official investigation continues, but the emotional one—the communal journey of understanding and coping—has already begun.
As Silverstreet mourns, the memory of April Nicole Sutton Long and Leroy Seegers settles into the heart of the community. Their absence is felt in the quiet corners and daily routines, yet their presence lives on in the stories people share and the love they left behind.