Life for the Pullins family feels like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces in different shapes and sizes scattered about and turned upside down.

When the pieces are put together they form a beautiful picture of a close-knit family that enjoys sharing meals, laughing, smiling and looking through photo albums filled with family pictures.

But three central pieces of the Pullins family puzzle are now missing.

In two weeks’ time the Pullins family endured the tragic deaths of three family members — a mother, brother and father.

Essie Mae Pullins died after heart surgery on Nov. 11. She was buried Nov. 17. On that same day, her son Reuben Riley was killed when he was hit by a truck on U.S. 61 South.

Three days later, the remaining family members learned their father, Horace Pullins Jr., had been electrocuted and killed while working in Detroit.

Left to pick up the pieces are five children who struggle each day to find the motivation to get out of bed and carry on with their own lives.

Horace Pullins III, Maurice Pullins, Terrance Pullins, Tiffany Pullins and Tiheshia Pullins have been living a nightmare they struggle to comprehend.

“No words can explain what we’ve been going through,” Terrance said. “If I had to try to come up with words, I’d have to say unreal, unbelievable. You can’t explain what’s it is like.”

Instead of focusing on what has been lost, Tiffany Pullins said she focuses on the memories she has of her family. She said her mother was the backbone of the family.

Essie Mae Pullins, Tiffany said, was the type of person who would go out of her way to help family members, friends, neighbors and even strangers. She delivered meals for Meals on Wheels for 11 years and only stopped because of illness.

“She always said ‘I’m going to go back. I have to go back,’” Tiffany said. “No matter the situation, no matter how negative, she always had something positive to say.”

For Tiffany it is her two children that make getting up every morning possible.

“My oldest daughter (Kelany Pullins) has my mother’s gift of laughter,” Tiffany said. “She has her outlook and her ability to smile, laugh and find the good in a person or situation. That was who my mother was.”

Laughter was abundant in the Pullins’ house growing up, Terrance said. He remembers his brother Reuben as a fun loving brother who was always up for a good joke.

Terrance said he remembers vividly a night when he was in his big brother’s bedroom playing after bedtime and found his brother hiding under the bed waiting for the perfect time to scare the other siblings.

“I don’t know why this memory sticks out, but we were all in that room playing and he was hiding under the bed,” Terrance said. “I saw him, but he scared the rest of them.”

Terrance said he always tried to copy his brother’s style and attitude. Reuben, Terrance said, was the kind of person who always liked to look his best.

“He was always coordinated,” Terrance said. “Some people when they go to the store, they’ll just put on whatever, but not him. He was always put together.”

But more than that, Terrance said his brother enjoyed his family most of all.

“When I’d come home from Baton Rouge, my brother, he’d hug me forever,” Terrance remembers. “He’d always say ‘Brother, I don’t see you enough.’”

Horace Pullins III shares a name with his father and has always been told he shares his looks as well.

Horace said growing up, his mother constantly remarked about how similar he was to his father, both physically and in personality. Those, Horace said, were big compliments, since his father was a man who was always helping other people.

“He’d work on people’s cars or fix things around their house just to help out,” Horace said. “My parents were very caring and loving people who would sacrifice to help others. That’s what I want people to remember about them.”

Tiheshia Pullins said the only memories she has of her family are good ones. She said holidays were an especially happy time filled with extended family, laughter and lots of good food — in particular her mother’s famous pies.

“Thanksgiving was my mother’s favorite holiday,” she said. “This year Thanksgiving dinner will probably be McDonald’s. It is harder to think about Thanksgiving because we know how much she loved it.”

But in all the tragedy, the family finds things for which to be thankful. Tiheshia said friends, relatives, coworkers at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility and community members have been supportive by offering prayers and sympathy. Tiheshia said she is thankful to have a loving family that supports each other.

“I’m thankful that we are here together,” she said. “I know I can lean on them for support, and we will work through this together.”

Tiffany said people have gone “above and beyond to comfort us.”

“My aunt, my dad’s only sister Paula Pullins Newton, she’s been here since the beginning,” Tiffany said. “Even though she lives in Biloxi she made sure she has been here for us.

“People like that is what I’m thankful for.”

A benefit to raise money to cover funeral expenses has been planned for Friday, Dec. 18. There will be a raffle for a gun, barbecue grill and other prizes and a spaghetti dinner.

Tickets for the dinner are $5 each and delivery is available.

For more information about the benefit call Jamie Herrington at 601-334-1594, Renea Dawson at 601-807-2639 or Cathy Warren at 601-431-2755.

A benefit account for the Pullins family is in the process of being established at Concordia Bank and Trust.

Donations can also be made to the funeral costs at Robert D. Mackel & Sons Funeral Home in Natchez.