Community Raises Over $11K for Rogersville Family After Fatal House Fire

GoFundMe campaign aims to help with funeral costs for Jimmy and Lena Bruner, who died in the blaze.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $11,000 to support the family of Jimmy and Lena Bruner, who died in a house fire in Rogersville, Tennessee on January 30th. The Bruners' granddaughter, Kristina Jones, organized the fundraiser to help cover funeral and other expenses. The Bruners were married for 60 years, with Jimmy being an Army veteran and longtime employee of the Kingsport Press, while Lena was described as "an angel on Earth" by their granddaughter.

Why it matters

The tragic house fire that claimed the lives of the beloved Bruner couple has devastated their community, prompting an outpouring of support through the GoFundMe campaign to assist the family during this difficult time. The fundraiser highlights the importance of community aid in the aftermath of such tragic events.

The details

According to the obituary, the Bruners' house on Cave Springs Road in Rogersville caught fire around 2:45 AM on January 30th. Emergency responders found the home "fully engulfed in flames" and were unable to save the couple. The Hawkins County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the incident.

  • The fire occurred on January 30, 2026 around 2:45 AM.
  • The GoFundMe campaign was organized by the Bruners' granddaughter, Kristina Jones.

The players

Jimmy Bruner

An 87-year-old Army veteran and longtime employee of the Kingsport Press who farmed tobacco with his wife, Lena.

Lena Bruner

An 80-year-old woman described as "an angel on Earth" by her granddaughter, who was married to Jimmy Bruner for 60 years.

Kristina Jones

The Bruners' granddaughter who organized the GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and other expenses for her grandparents.

Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson

The sheriff who confirmed the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the fatal house fire.

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What they’re saying

“Jimmy was the kind of man that never met a stranger. He would give the shirt off of his own back to help someone that he had never even met.”

— Kristina Jones, Granddaughter of Jimmy and Lena Bruner (GoFundMe)

“Lena was simply an angel on Earth. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.”

— Kristina Jones, Granddaughter of Jimmy and Lena Bruner (GoFundMe)

What’s next

The Hawkins County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the cause of the fatal house fire.

The takeaway

The outpouring of community support through the GoFundMe campaign demonstrates the profound impact the Bruners had on their local community, and the importance of coming together to help families in the aftermath of such tragic events.