He lost wife to cancer, home to fire. Myrtle Beach community helping him rebuild
Terry Waters stands in the middle of what was his living room.
Ashes and glass litter the floor and the once-white walls are streaked black, having been licked by flames that gutted more than half the house and destroyed both of his vehicles in the Forestbrook community.
Waters picks up a melted remote that goes to the flat-screen TV still mounted on the wall. “I was sittin’ right over there,” Waters said, pointing to a far wall.
The 54-year-old was on his couch, watching football, the Sunday after Thanksgiving when a fire that started in the garage quickly spread to the house, forcing him and his daughter to flee.
Now, Waters is dealing with the aftermath, which includes discovering he no longer has home insurance — another tragedy that adds to an already tough year for Waters, who lost his wife to cancer in January.
The loss of home insurance stems from an apparent miscommunication that happened when he paid off his mortgage following his wife’s death. But it has left Waters with no way to pay for repairs or possible reconstruction of his home.
However, a single social media post by a friend has sparked a community movement, as businesses and volunteers have come forward to donate time, labor and skills to help Waters repair his home — for free.
“I can’t imagine anybody going through what I’ve gone through this year,” Waters said. “But with the amount of people around me, we’ll get it done.
“I’m just overwhelmed. It’s been a blessing.”
‘When I got my last kiss’
Nicole Waters was diagnosed with cancer in June 2024. By the time doctors were prepared to do surgery, she had a mass “the size of her head,” and the cancer had spread to her liver, lungs and spine, Terry Waters said.
She was started on chemotherapy that eventually failed. Doctors wanted to call in hospice; Waters pushed for additional specialists.
The couple were connected with another cancer specialist, but before Nicole could be seen, she fell ill and had to be rushed to the hospital.
The 45-year-old passed away on Jan. 5, 2025.
“Dec. 31 was our 20-year wedding anniversary,” Waters said. “That’s when I got my last kiss.”
Harry the dog alerted family to fire
Waters was with his dog, Harry, on Nov. 30, 2025, when he heard a pop. Harry got up and began smelling along the wall that leads to the outside near the garage and then sat down in the kitchen, facing the garage door.
Waters followed the dog toward the garage entrance. “By the time I opened the door. I was about knocked down from the smoke and fire,” Waters said.
He quickly shut the door and yelled for his 18-year-old daughter, Emily, to grab Harry and get out of the house.
The two were able to escape, but the fire caused significant damage. The garage is gone and the ceiling and roof have caved in. The bedrooms were spared; however, the entire house has been affected by water and smoke damage.
Waters credits his dog for saving him. “I wouldn’t have made it out if I was asleep,” he said.
For Emily, the home is where she grew up. Her parents bought it when she was about 2 weeks old.
The family was able to salvage some items from the home. Other things have been donated, including a place for the father and daughter to stay at no charge.
The gesture will allow Waters to save up money to help rebuild his home, since he doesn’t have insurance to pay for it.
The policy lapsed after the mortgage was paid off using money from his wife’s insurance. The mortgage payment included fees for the house insurance, which was paid to the insurance company each month through the mortgage company.
However, when the mortgage was paid off, apparently the insurance company was never notified, Waters said. After three weeks of non-payment, the insurance policy was canceled without Waters’ knowledge.
“I know it’s partially my fault, I should have kept up with it,” Waters said, “I thought I was paid up until next year.”
Community steps up to help
When Jason Black heard from Waters’ friend, Nicole Newman Dula, about the family’s situation, he posted a plea on Facebook for help.
People responded.
Several businesses, including Joey Huntley with J. Huntley Plumbing , have offered to take care of different parts of the rebuild. Waters also has been in contact with an electrician and roofer. And donations have poured in, reaching almost $35,000.
“I’m just doing what I was taught to do growing up and that is help your neighbor and always help people in need if you can,” Huntley said. “Trust me, my family has had rough times in our life. I know what it means to be down on your luck.”
Huntley lives down the street from Waters. He was out washing his work truck the day of the fire, and heard a pop. When he looked back, he saw a plume of smoke. “By the time I got from my house to his house, it was gone,” Huntley said.
Huntley is offering his plumbing services for free, and has other companies that will donate the parts for the work, he said.
“I’m not a rich man by no means, but I’m good at what I do,” said Huntley, who added that he too was a single father for years.
Huntley has been one of several people who have worked to help clean up around Waters’ home. He plans to go back and power wash the driveway.
Waters, a title researcher, also praises his company, Title Wave Real Estate, which has continued to pay him while has been off work after the fire. “They are the best company I’ve ever worked for,” he said.
And on Dec. 18, 2025, Waters received another surprise. He was gifted a vehicle from The Car Store, 4625 Dick Pond Road in the Myrtle Beach area, after being nominated for the car giveaway.
It will replace one of the two vehicles he lost in the fire.
“It’s been a nightmare,” Waters said of the fire. However, he’s hopeful that the first of the year will bring good news.
“I don’t give up,” he said. “I’m a trouper.”
