SANFORD, Fla. -- For the first time, a father and husband spoke out about the plane crash that killed his wife and 6-month-old son. Joe Woodard said his faith is helping him get through the tragedy.

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Woodards' wife and baby were among the five people killed when a small plane crashed into two homes in Sanford earlier this week. Thursday, at the Preserve at Lake Monroe subdivision, he spoke publicly.

Little was left of the Woodard family home after Tuesday's plane crash. Joe rushed to the scene from work, not knowing what happened. He pulled up and found his home a burned out shell and his wife and son dead.

Considering what's happened, Joe is holding up remarkably well.

"I just want to thank everybody and everything they are doing to help my family in their time of need," he said Thursday.

Joe's wife, 24-year-old Janise, and son, 6-month-old Josiah, both died Tuesday when the plane slammed into their home.

"I'd been trying to call Janise and she hadn't picked up the phone. So when I got in my neighborhood, I noticed that it was my house that got hit with the plane and a lot of emotions started running through my mind," he said.

Woodard desperately tried to run into his house. Firefighters and police had to hold him back.

"I didn't believe it happened to me, out of all the houses and trees around. I couldn't believe it was my house and my son," he said.

Joe had been married to Janise for five years. She was a law student at Florida A&M University. In her spare time, she mentored young girls and helped build up their self-esteem. She created a program called The Princess Within.

"She bought them tiaras. If she couldn't get donations, she'd fund it. The girls didn't have to worry about paying anything. This is the type of person she was," said family member, Regina Powell.

Joe said his faith is helping get through the loss of his wife and son. He said he doesn't think, he knows their both in heaven.

"I'm dealing with it, 'cause I know death is a part of life and, in order to live life, you have to die," he said.

Joe and Janise had another daughter, 4-year-old Jurnee. She was at her grandparents in Jacksonville during the crash.