Remembering Claude Thornhill: Gulf Coast mourns loss at vigil Sunday night

The Gulf Coast community came together Sunday night to honor and mourn the loss of Claude Thornhill, who was tragically killed in an apartment fire last week.

Friends and family gathered at the Courthouse Pier in Gulfport, candles in hand, sharing memories of Claude together.

Claude was tragically killed Wednesday when his apartment went up in flames early in the morning when a Mardi Gras tree caught fire.

Sources say Claude rescued his brother and his brother’s boyfriend, who were home at the time of the fire, and got them out on the roof to safety.

Claude went back in to rescue their pets and unfortunately did not make it out.

March 1st, is Claude’s birthday. He would have been 43 years old.