Tyler Perry promises home to fire victim

ATLANTA, Fla., Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Actor Tyler Perry got into the Christmas spirit by providing a home for an 88-year-old Georgia woman who lost her home in a fire, officials said.

After television coverage of the fire aired, Perry visited Rosa Lee Ransby's neighborhood and pledged to rent her a house for a year, pay for utilities and furniture, and build a new home on her property, WSB-TV, Atlanta, reported.

Ransby and her 4-year-old great-granddaughter safely escaped the burning home in Coweta County, where she had lived for 40 years.

"It's just good, you know," Ransby said. "I didn't think I had no friends, but I found out I got some."

The actor's generosity surprised the family and firefighters.

"It's made my Christmas. I've been doing this a long time, seen a lot of bad things come and go but this is special," Coweta Fire Chief Todd Moore said.

The house Perry rented for Ransby is only a few doors down from her home that burned.

Construction of the new home will start in January.