South African woman killed in Michigan church shooting

Thelma Armstrong

Cape Town – South African-born Thelma Rina Armstrong, 54, was among four worshippers killed in a mass shooting and fire at the Grand Blanc Township Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan on September 28.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, rammed his pickup truck into the church, opened fire on congregants, and set the building ablaze before police fatally shot him, reports said.

Two victims died from gunfire, eight were wounded, and two more were found in the rubble.

Victims ranged in age from 6 to 78, including John Bond, a 77-year-old Vietnam War Navy veteran; Pat Howard; and Craig Hayden, who was reportedly killed while helping others.

According to The Detroit News, Armstrong, born May 8, 1971, in Klerksdorp, South Africa, had immigrated to the US in 2019 to be near her grandchildren.

She converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2011 and taught Sunday classes for 5-year-olds. Known as “Missionary Mother” for her strong bonds with church members, she was deeply devoted to her congregation.

Before moving to the US, Armstrong managed a local grocery store in Klerksdorp called Food Zone. In Michigan, she worked as a Quality Technician at American Axle, remembered for her warmth, professionalism, and friendliness.

Her family and obituary highlight her kindness, loyalty, and the way she treated everyone as family. Her daughter recalled a story from her seventh birthday, when Armstrong gifted her a figure of Jesus, calling it the “biggest gift” she ever gave.

Police and community leaders condemned the attack as an “evil act,” praising officers’ swift response.

The incident comes amid a troubling trend in the US, with 341 mass shootings recorded so far in 2025, leaving 331 dead and 1,499 wounded.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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