Floresville, Texas - About 3 000 people
packed a funeral service on Wednesday to mourn a Texas family
that suffered losses to three generations when a man with an
assault weapon opened fire at a rural church on November 5 and
killed 26 people.
Hundreds had to be turned away from the public memorial for
nine members of the Holcombe family after the crowd filled an
event center to capacity in the town of Floresville, about 15
miles (25 km) from the First Baptist Church in Sutherland
Springs, where the attack took place.
The funeral was closed to the media and a private burial
will be held at a later time, organizers said.
In the crowd outside, mourners hugged and shed tears, while
those who could not get in signed memorial books.
Among those killed in the deadliest mass shooting in modern
Texas history were John Bryan Holcombe, who was leading services
in the church, and his wife Karla. Their son Marc "Danny"
Holcombe died along with his 18-month-old daughter Noah.
His sister-in-law Crystal and Emily, Megan and Greg Hill,
three children from Crystal's first marriage, also died.
Crystal Holcombe was several months pregnant. Under Texas
law, her unborn child, named Carlin Brite Holcombe, is
considered a victim.
Mourners arrive at the Floresville Event Center to attend a funeral for members of the Holcombe family who were killed in the Sutherland Springs Baptist Church shooting in Floresville, Texas. Picture: Eric Gay/AP
The family was well known in the area about 30 miles (50
kms) east of San Antonio. Condolence messages have been pouring
in to the Facebook page of the Franklin Funeral Home.
Joe Holcombe, 86, and his wife, Claryce, 84, the parents of
John Holcombe, have turned to their Christian faith to help them
through the enormous loss to their family.
Joe Holcombe told Reuters that he and his wife believe their
dead family members are alive in heaven.
“We know exactly where the family is, and it’s not going to
be long until we’ll both be there," he said. "And we’re really
sort of looking forward to it."