BRENTWOOD, Tennessee (WKRN) – Members of the Remnant Fellowship Church in Brentwood gathered to remember their seven leaders who died in a plane crash on Percy Priest Lake.
The service took place on Saturday a week after the crash in Rutherford County.
The church posted images on its website showing crowds of worshipers inside the church for a memorial service to honor and support families who have lost loved ones. The event began with chants and music before the speakers made remarks.
“With such a great loss of so many parents and a spouse, I want, once again, to remind the public to respect the privacy of Michael and Elizabeth and all of the children who have lost their parents during this time,” said Durville Patton, who is listed on the church’s website as a leader who became a member in 2005. “We all have great hope for all of these children because we know that not only will they be surrounded by loving help. for years to come, but we also know that the spirit of the parents’ life still lives in these children.
The victims have been identified as William J. Lara, Gwen S. Lara, Jennifer J. Martin, David L. Martin, Jessica Walters, Jonathan Walters and Brandon Hannah, all of Brentwood, Tennessee.
They would all have had an impact not only on the church, but also on the community.
Brentwood-based SpecialtyCare CEO Sam Weinstein spoke during the service about Jonathan Walters’ work as President of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring, one of the company’s largest and fastest growing divisions. .
“Jonathan, JW or J-Dub as we sometimes called him, ran the largest service of its kind in the country and quite possibly the world,” Weinstein said. “When Jonathan was in a room at SpecialtyCare, he was the room. It was clear from the energy and love he put into his job that this was a mission for him.
Eldon and Sara Gormsen shared notes from the children of David and Jennifer Martin who had been members of Remnant Fellowship since 1999. “My dad was the most amazing dad ever. He was so caring, so loving, so humble, the most righteous man I have ever known, ”Eldon Gormsen read in Aaron Martin’s note. “It has been said many times, but he had the most incredible voice you can hear.”
Alec Leaman was moved when he spoke about working for Brandon Hannah for the past six years.
“Growing up, he was always one of those people you turned to and you would see this kindness, this joy and this generosity,” Leaman said.
Church leaders thanked worshipers and the community for their support to the families of the victims since the devastating plane crash.
The church has shared the full service on its website.
As to what led to the plane crashing in the first place, the preliminary investigation could take up to 14 days, according to the NTSB, and the entire investigation could take 18 to 24 months. Crews completed the recovery process last Tuesday.