Friends speak out after victim identified in Martin Dollar General fire

MARTIN, Tenn. — Friends speak out after officials identified the body found inside a Dollar General that caught on fire early Wednesday morning.

The Martin Police Department identified Ruby Rachel Tackett, 59, as the victim found inside the store when firefighters made their way inside the building.

Those close to her said she was a pillar in their community, and everyone loved her.

“She’s not the kind of person that deserves this, she was the kind of person that I certainly wanted to be and that most everybody wanted to be,” former co-worker Adam Fuqua said.

According to Tackett’s obituary, she was the manager at Dollar General for 15 years. Those who worked with Tackett said they were in complete shock when they heard the news.

“She was more than a boss to me…she was a grandmother,” Fuqua said.

Tackett’s co-workers said she had a powerful work ethic, going into work early to make sure the job was done right.

“She cared so much about her employees and getting the job done that she would be up there at 4 or 5 in the morning, and that’s how this happened in the first place was that she wanted to see the work done,” Fuqua said.

Friends say her impact goes beyond words, and the void Tackett behind is indescribable.

“There really aren’t any words to say express for that because she was just a person that made you want to be around her,” Patricia Southerland said.

Funeral arrangements for Tackett have not been announced.

The TBI said this is an arson investigation.

Officials have not released a cause of death yet. Chief Teal said they are calling this a fire death investigation now.

Local officials ask if you have any information regarding the fire to please contact Crimestoppers at (731) 587-2611.