Tennessee Church Holds Vigil for Pastor Killed in Explosion

The fiancée of a pastor killed in an explosion at a munitions factory in Tennessee mentioned that his church held a prayer service this week, drawing a large crowd. Trent Stewart was the pastor at Log Church in Waverly, where they canceled regular Sunday activities to focus on prayer, according to Charlie Musick, the church’s associate pastor.

Authorities in Humphreys and Hickman counties confirmed that Stewart was one of the 16 individuals who lost their lives in the explosion at the Accurate Energetic Systems plant, located around 80 miles west of Nashville.

Katie Stover shared on Facebook that “we had a full house this morning at Log Church, which I’m sure Trent would have loved.” She expressed gratitude to everyone who attended, expressing hope that they would return the following Sunday. Stover recalled feeling a mixture of joy and sadness as she saw the community come together to honor Trent and his family.

Stover also reflected on their relationship, saying, “Trent was the nicest guy I’ve ever met. He absolutely loved the Lord, and it showed every day. Legally, he was my husband. I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me otherwise. I know he would have been a great father, and I’m comforted by my faith that he is at peace now.”

Another victim of the explosion, Reyna Gillahan, had dreams of paying off her home for her family. Following the tragedy, her daughter, Rosalina Gillahan, started fundraising efforts to support their family. Rosalina described her mother as “loving, strong, and a beautiful soul who always put others before herself.”

The other victims included Jason Adams, Billy Baker, Christopher Clark, James Cook, Latisha Mays, Melinda Rainey, Stephen Wright, Eric Anderson, Adam Boatman, Mindy Clifton, Jeremy Moore, Melissa Stafford, Rachel Woodall, and Donald Yowell.

In remembrance of the victims, a candlelight vigil took place in Waverly. Wellspring Church of Christ noted that Donald Yowell had deep ties to their community. He moved there with his family some years ago after becoming a chemist at the plant.

Additionally, comments on social media revealed that Mindy Clifton had previously worked in a Florida correctional facility before moving to Tennessee. A colleague praised her dedication, recalling that she had served the community for over two decades.

Authorities continue to work on clearing hazardous materials at the plant to begin their investigation into the explosion. Matthew Belew, the acting special agent in charge of ATF, indicated that they would start looking into the cause once the area was deemed safe.

As recovery efforts continue, many in the community reflect on the lives lost and the deep impact this tragedy has had on their lives. It’s heart-wrenching, you know, to think about how each of these individuals touched the lives of family and friends.