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Fire Kills Woman

BLACKSHEAR - A Blackshear woman died early Friday in a fire at her home here, said Pierce County Sheriff Richard King.

The body of Shirley Dial Bennett, 66, of Blackshear, was found after the fire destroyed the home, said King. (See obituary on page 2.)
The cause of the fire has not been determined and remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Douglas office King said.
"Right now, it's just under investigation," King said when asked if law enforcement officials suspect foul play.
Firefighters from the Hacklebarney station of the Pierce County Volunteer Fire Service were summoned to the home at 2404 Bennett Road in Blackshear at 1:05 a.m. Friday, King said.
The woman was alone when the fire broke out, King said, adding that her husband, Edward Bennett, was out of town.
Pierce County law enforcement officials responded to the call, along with a number of volunteer firefighters. Ken Justice was in charge of the fire suppression effort, King said.