Judy Stegner stands over the casket of her son, Justin Ray, 17, at his funeral service Saturday  ALSO: Four days later, sanctuary scars still visible Authorities piece together bizarre puzzle of Ashbrook's life Rock band returns to scene of Texas church killings Authorities piece together bizarre puzzle of Ashbrook's life U.S. shooting tragedies spark cycle of spin Recent shootings renew gun control debate 'The guy pointed a gun at me' - transcript of a 911 call from Wedgwood Baptist Church MESSAGE BOARDS: Church Shootings GALLERY Shooting Fatalities RELATED AUDIO Listen to witnesses describe the shooting at the Wedgwood Baptist Church. AIFF (384 K/ 30 sec. audio) AIFF (224 K/ 18 sec. audio) AIFF (320 K/ 25 sec. audio) AIFF (544 K/ 45 sec. audio)

September 19, 1999
Web posted at: 4:36 p.m. EDT (2036 GMT)

In this story: 'Shawn ran the race victoriously' 'Unique wisdom' of choir director recalled Youth aspired to career in film production RELATED STORIES, SITES

FORT WORTH, Texas (CNN) -- Thousands of mourners, including Texas Gov. George W. Bush, attended a community-wide memorial service Sunday for the victims of last week's shooting at a Fort Worth church.

Wedgwood Baptist Church earlier in the day held services for the first time since Larry Ashbrook fatally wounded seven people in the sanctuary before killing himself on Wednesday.

Accompanied by his wife, Laura, Bush took off his black coat and greeted mourners as the sound of a choir filled Texas Christian University's Amon Carter Stadium at the beginning of the afternoon service.

On Saturday, friends and family of four of those slain in the massacre sought comfort in each other and their faith at multiple funerals on a day "of phenomenal sadness and mourning."

Susan "Kim" Jones, 23, was remembered for her ready smile and love of missionary work at a packed service at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, which hosted three of the services.

Jones worked with youth at Wedgwood and lived on campus at the seminary, where she recently began classes after graduating from Texas Christian University.

"We are not angry, and we have peace God is in control," said Jones' mother, Stephanie Jones. "She was a joy and a delight."

The grieving mother recalled that her daughter wanted to travel to other countries to share her faith. "This is an opportunity to tell the world about Kim's love of the Lord," Jones said.

'Shawn ran the race victoriously'

Hundreds of people crowded a Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary auditorium, where Shawn Brown, 23, was remembered as a warm and compassionate man with a sense of humor.

"Don't expend too much energy trying to understand what happened ... the other night," said Pastor Al Meredith, who called the funerals "a day of phenomenal sadness and mourning."

Brown, a Sunday school teacher, was studying to be a youth minister at the seminary. His widow, Kathy Jo, told the mourners that she "loved being Shawn Brown's wife."

"We had a marriage based on God, and we often said we felt like we were living in a dream," she said. "We were a team, and we challenged each other."

"Shawn ran the race victoriously all the way to God's arms," Kathy Jo Brown said tearfully.

'Unique wisdom' of children's choir director recalled

A bagpiper led the funeral procession for Sydney R. Browning, a 1991 seminary graduate and the children's choir director at Wedgwood. Brett Cooper, a friend of Browning's, recalled her "unique Sydney wisdom" for the standing room only crowd.

"As long as you thought she was funny, she was OK with any other opinion" of her, he said.

Cooper asked friends and family to think of "the joy, the laughter ... that she brought into our lives, that made them immeasurably richer."

The 36-year-old Browning taught at Success High School, a night school on the Trimble Tech High School campus, where many of her students were dropouts. She was shot while sitting on a couch in the foyer with a friend. She also sang in the choir and was a favored soloist.

Youth aspired to career in film production

Services for Justin Ray, a high school senior, took place at Westcliff United Methodist Church. The 17-year old is said to have blossomed after transferring to the Cassata Learning Center, an alternative school with a self- paced environment.

He was a devoted Boy Scout who had developed an interest in the audiovisual arts and wanted to pursue a career in film and sound production.

Ray held a video camera, taping the performance of a Christian rock group, when Ashbrook, 47, burst into the church and opened fire. The tape ends after Ashbrook aimed at the camera and fired.

The funerals for 14-year-olds Kristi Beckel, Joseph D. Ennis and Cassandra Griffin will be held Monday. Two of the seven who were injured remained hospitalized in fair condition.

Correspondent Bill Hemmer and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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