4-year-old daughter of Tennessee youth minister among tornado victims
The 4-year-old daughter of a youth minister is among at…
Three more members of Churches of Christ confirmed dead in tornadoes, bringing total to six
Family of three 'were workers in the church and very strong Christians,' fellow member of Tennessee congregation says.
A Tennessee congregation is mourning a family of three — including the minister’s daughter, son-in-law and young grandson — killed in the tornadoes that claimed at at least 24 lives and injured dozens more in that Southern state.
Josh and Erin Kimberlin and their 2-year-old son, Sawyer, attended the Colonial Heights Church of Christ in hard-hit Cookeville, Tenn., about 80 miles east of Nashville.
Related: 4-year-old daughter of Tennessee youth minister among tornado victims
Erin Kimberlin’s father, Rodney Pitts, preaches for the 40-member congregation.
“The Kimberlins were workers in the church and very strong Christians,” fellow member Art Mattson told The Christian Chronicle on Wednesday morning. “It’s just a devastating loss for the congregation, for the community.”
News of the Kimberlins’ deaths brings to six the number of members of Churches of Christ — all in Cookeville — reported dead in the Tennessee tornadoes.
The Collegeside Church of Christ late Tuesday confirmed the passing of Hattie Collins, daughter of youth minister Matt Collins and his wife, Macy. (A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the Collins family.)
Related: ‘Pray for comfort and peace and hope. We are hurting’
Hattie “passed from this world today into the loving arms of Jesus. Please continue to keep this family and all of the others affected by this tragedy in your prayers,” the church said on its website. Her parents and younger sister Lainey were injured in the storm.
The Collegeside church hosted a #CookevilleStrong community prayer service Tuesday night. During the service, a man told the congregation, “We lost a fine lady who was part of the family here.” At that time, the man reported that a child in the congregation remained missing. Hattie’s death was confirmed later.
Pat Lane
On Wednesday morning, the Collegeside church confirmed the death of “beloved sister Pat Lane.” She was 67.
“Please continue to keep our community in your prayers,” the note added.
Elsewhere, Kevin Daughrity, youth and family minister for the Sycamore Church of Christ in Cookeville, said: “We lost one of our teenagers.” An email to the congregation informed members of her name. Authorities identified the girl as Bridgette (Ann Marie) McCormick, giving her age as 12 or 13.
This is a breaking news report. Check back for updates. Email tips to Bobby Ross Jr. at [email protected].
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