Beloved 99-year-old author, former educator dies in Ga. house fire

ATLANTA, Ga. — A house fire in Atlanta’s Collier Heights neighborhood Tuesday morning killed 99-year-old Phyllis Lawhorn, an educator, historian and author, neighbors and city officials said.Fire officials said the fire engulfed Lawhorn’s home and the second floor collapsed. Lawhorn did not survive.Fire investigators are still investigating the cause.In the hours after the fire, a neighbor described what she saw.“The flame was high, high when we looked out the window,” said Keisha Propst, who lives next door.Lawhorn wrote a book on the history of Collier Heights in her 90s. The book is titled “Atlanta’s Collier Heights: Bending with the Wind.”Last year, Lawhorn signed copies of the book. In August 2025, the City of Atlanta also awarded her a proclamation for her impact on Atlanta. Councilmember Michael Julian Bond presented it to her.“Collier Heights is going to miss you, and thank you for your book, and all of the hard work that you put into writing the book,” neighbor Jennifer Walton