A South African expat – Thelma Rina Armstrong – living in the US has been laid to rest after she was killed in a mass shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan.
Armstrong of Klerksdorp was one of four Grand Blanc church-goers who died in the tragedy.
The shooter, Thomas Jacob Sanford, was shot and killed by police during a stand-off.
SOUTH AFRICAN EXPAT KILLED IN CHURCH SHOOTING
South African expat Thelma Rina Armstrong was recently laid to rest in a funeral service in Michigan.
The Klerksdorp woman was attending her local church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, when she was shot and killed by a gunman.
The incident occurred late last month when retired military officer Thomas Jacob Sanford crashed his pickup truck into the side of the church. Sanford then opened fire at congregants before dramatically setting the building on fire.
He was shot and killed by police in a parking lot behind the church. The tragedy is under investigation by authorities.
The South African woman – a mother and grandmother – was one of four church-goers who died in the mass shooting tragedy.
Armstrong was born in Klerksdorp, South Africa, and immigrated to the US in 2019 to be closer to her family.
According to her obituary, Armstrong worked as a quality technician at the manufacturer, American Axle. Before moving abroad, she managed a local store in Klerksdorp called Food Zone.
‘MISSIONARY MOTHER’
Thelma Rina Armstrong was known to those around her as “Missionary Mother” over her work in the church, where she was shot and killed.
The obituary said the South African’s greatest joy “was found in her family, especially her beloved grandchildren. She adored them and embraced her role as ‘Yia Yia’ with endless love and delight.”
On her Facebook account, Armstrong often bragged about her home country, and was a proud Springbok supporter.
