CrosswordNewsletters
DAILY BEAST
ALL
  • Cheat Sheet
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Media
  • Innovation
  • Covid-19
  • World
  • U.S. News
  • Scouted
  • Travel
CHEAT SHEET
    POLITICS
    • Biden World
    • Elections
    • Opinion
    • National Security
    • Congress
    • Pay Dirt
    • The New Abnormal
    • Right Richter
    • Trumpland
    MEDIA
    • Daytime Talk
    • Late-Night
    • Fox News
    U.S. NEWS
    • Identities
    • Crime
    • Race
    • LGBT
    • Extremism
    • Coronavirus
    WORLD
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • China
    • Middle East
    SCIENCE
    • Hunt for the Cure
    • Rabbit Hole
    TRAVEL
      ENTERTAINMENT
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Sports
      • Sex
      • TDBs Obsessed
      • Awards Shows
      • The Last Laugh
      HALF-FULL
        CULTURE
        • Power Trip
        • Fashion
        • Books
        • Royalist
        TECH
        • Disinformation
        SCOUTED
        • Face Masks
        • Clothing
        • Technology
        • Bedroom
        • Kitchen
        • Home
        • Fitness
        • The Case For
        • I'm Looking For
        • New Kids On the Block
        COUPONS
        • Adidas Promo Codes
        • DoorDash Promo Codes
        • H&M Coupons
        • Hotwire Promo Codes
        • Wine.com Discounts
        • Vitacost Coupons
        • Spanx Promo Codes
        • StubHub Promo Codes
        Products
        NewslettersPodcastsCrosswordsSubscription
        FOLLOW US
        GOT A TIP?

        SEARCH

        HOMEPAGE
        U.S. News

        Couple Murdered in Church Was ‘as Close to a True Life of Christ as You Could Get’

        REST IN PEACE

        Karla Holcombe was a mother of four who taught Sunday school classes and volunteered at a prison. Bryan was preaching when he was cut down.

        Matt Briscoe

        Updated Nov. 06, 2017 3:04PM ET / Published Nov. 05, 2017 9:32PM ET 

        Brown Family

        SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas—One of the first victims of a church massacre outside San Antonio to be publicly identified is Karla Holcombe, a family friend told The Daily Beast.

        Holcombe was among 26 people killed when a gunman opened fire at First Baptist Church Sutherland Springs on Sunday morning in the worst mass murder in Texas history. Among those killed were the church pastor’s 14-year-old daughter, children as young as 5, and adults as old as 72.

        Holcombe was in church with her husband of more than 25 years, Bryan, who was preaching in place of the pastor who was out of town. Bryan, along with the couple’s daughter-in-law Chrystal, and three of Chrystal’s children with their son John, were also among the dead. Chrystal was reported to be eight months pregnant. Two of her children survived the attack.

        Brown Family

        “We loved Karla and Karla loved us,” said Jenna Brown, who knew Holcombe from their days at nearby First Baptist Church Floresville. “I cannot believe this happened.”

        Brown said Holcombe—a mother of four and grandmother—was a generous and loving person who at one point volunteered at a prison and taught Sunday school classes. The last time Brown last saw Holcombe was on Halloween last Tuesday during a “fall festival” hosted by First Baptist Church Sutherland Springs.

        “She was joking and just as happy as always,” Brown said.

        The Holcombes owned and operated a canvas repair shop in nearby Floresville, Texas for several years before their retirement.

        “They really were loving people,” Brown said. “They were about as close to a true life of Christ as you could get.”

        READ THIS LIST

        DAILY BEAST
        • Podcasts
        • Cheat Sheet
        • Politics
        • Crime
        • Entertainment
        • Media
        • Covid-19
        • Half Full
        • U.S. News
        • Scouted
        • Travel
        • Subscription
        • Crossword
        • Newsletters
        • Podcasts
        • About
        • Contact
        • Tips
        • Jobs
        • Advertise
        • Help
        • Privacy
        • Code of Ethics & Standards
        • Diversity
        • Terms & Conditions
        • Copyright & Trademark
        • Sitemap
        • Coupons
        © 2022 The Daily Beast Company LLC