Carnell Dawson Sr. was known as a ladies' man in his hometown of Bristow, Okla. He was charming and gregarious, a "Yes, ma'am. No ma'am," sort of guy.
That was Dawson, nicknamed "Country" because of his drawl.
"If you could have ever talked to him, you'd never forget him," said Novella Solomon, 47, another sister. "Everybody loved him."
His funeral today at Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries marks the final service in one of the most painful episodes in Baltimore's recent history. A wake will be held at 10 a.m., with the funeral following at 11 a.m.
Dawson's wife, Angela Maria Dawson, 36, and five of their children, Keith and Kevin Dawson, both 9; Carnell Dawson Jr., 10; Juan Ortiz, 12; and LaWanda Ortiz, 14, all perished in an arson fire two weeks ago. They were buried last week.
Police say that about 2:20 a.m. Oct. 16, someone kicked in the front door of the Dawsons' home at 1401 E. Preston St., poured gasoline throughout the first floor, then set the house ablaze.
Many believe the fire was set in retaliation for the family's refusal to ignore the drug dealing in their neighborhood.
Dawson, 43, escaped by jumping out of a second-story window, but died a week later. Darrell L. Brooks, 21, who lived around the corner, has been charged with the crime.
Growing up, Dawson was known as an industrious young man with a good heart, his values honed by a strong family and the congregation at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Oklahoma.
He gave senior citizens a break on his price to do their lawns because he knew they were on a fixed income. He was a whiz at physics and chemistry, but never graduated from Bristow High School.
"He hated to do book reports," said his sister, Alice McNack, 49.
He worked several jobs around Bristow, population 4,700. It was the kind of town where everyone seemed to know everyone.
Dawson spent his youth there, then traveled, joined the Oklahoma National Guard and served in the Army.
"The first thing that comes to my mind is 'full of life,' just living life to the fullest," said Tameka Evans, 24, who flew in from Kansas for her father's funeral. "He had an energy about him."
Twelve years ago, he came to Maryland and moved in with McNack and her husband. He became a stocker at the commissary at Fort Meade.
It was a good start, but McNack said she always wanted more out of her little brother.
"I always knew Carnell could be better than he was," McNack said. "He knew about plumbing, construction. He was a little jack of all trades."
Not too long after coming to Maryland, he met Angela Harrington in Severn. Soon, they started a family. For a while, they lived in a two-bedroom apartment on East Biddle Street.
About four years ago, they moved into a three-story rowhouse on East Preston Street.
"When they moved to Preston, that was like heaven to them. They had their own rooms," McNack said. "He made an oasis for his family on Preston."
The huge rowhouse with its entrance on Eden Street had four bedrooms, enough for everyone to claim their own space. And though there wasn't always a lot of money to go around, Dawson always provided the family with home entertainment.
He worked several jobs before settling on construction. It was good, steady work for Dawson. He stood 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighed about 130 pounds, all of it muscle.
"A small, buff guy," Elisha Cole, 20, said of her father.
He married Angela Harrington after they had been together for seven years. McNack said he told her that he woke up one morning and said he wanted to get married.
"I just became so proud of him in the 12 years," McNack said. "I saw him grow ... to being a responsible family man. "
That was Dawson, nicknamed "Country" because of his drawl.
"If you could have ever talked to him, you'd never forget him," said Novella Solomon, 47, another sister. "Everybody loved him."
His funeral today at Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries marks the final service in one of the most painful episodes in Baltimore's recent history. A wake will be held at 10 a.m., with the funeral following at 11 a.m.
Dawson's wife, Angela Maria Dawson, 36, and five of their children, Keith and Kevin Dawson, both 9; Carnell Dawson Jr., 10; Juan Ortiz, 12; and LaWanda Ortiz, 14, all perished in an arson fire two weeks ago. They were buried last week.
Police say that about 2:20 a.m. Oct. 16, someone kicked in the front door of the Dawsons' home at 1401 E. Preston St., poured gasoline throughout the first floor, then set the house ablaze.
Many believe the fire was set in retaliation for the family's refusal to ignore the drug dealing in their neighborhood.
Dawson, 43, escaped by jumping out of a second-story window, but died a week later. Darrell L. Brooks, 21, who lived around the corner, has been charged with the crime.
Growing up, Dawson was known as an industrious young man with a good heart, his values honed by a strong family and the congregation at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Oklahoma.
He gave senior citizens a break on his price to do their lawns because he knew they were on a fixed income. He was a whiz at physics and chemistry, but never graduated from Bristow High School.
"He hated to do book reports," said his sister, Alice McNack, 49.
He worked several jobs around Bristow, population 4,700. It was the kind of town where everyone seemed to know everyone.
Dawson spent his youth there, then traveled, joined the Oklahoma National Guard and served in the Army.
"The first thing that comes to my mind is 'full of life,' just living life to the fullest," said Tameka Evans, 24, who flew in from Kansas for her father's funeral. "He had an energy about him."
Twelve years ago, he came to Maryland and moved in with McNack and her husband. He became a stocker at the commissary at Fort Meade.
It was a good start, but McNack said she always wanted more out of her little brother.
"I always knew Carnell could be better than he was," McNack said. "He knew about plumbing, construction. He was a little jack of all trades."
Not too long after coming to Maryland, he met Angela Harrington in Severn. Soon, they started a family. For a while, they lived in a two-bedroom apartment on East Biddle Street.
About four years ago, they moved into a three-story rowhouse on East Preston Street.
"When they moved to Preston, that was like heaven to them. They had their own rooms," McNack said. "He made an oasis for his family on Preston."
The huge rowhouse with its entrance on Eden Street had four bedrooms, enough for everyone to claim their own space. And though there wasn't always a lot of money to go around, Dawson always provided the family with home entertainment.
He worked several jobs before settling on construction. It was good, steady work for Dawson. He stood 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighed about 130 pounds, all of it muscle.
"A small, buff guy," Elisha Cole, 20, said of her father.
He married Angela Harrington after they had been together for seven years. McNack said he told her that he woke up one morning and said he wanted to get married.
"I just became so proud of him in the 12 years," McNack said. "I saw him grow ... to being a responsible family man. "