Church mourns Nigerian couple killed in U.S

A local newspaper, Reading Eagle reported that the service took place on Wednesday night at the Hope Baptist Church in Reading, Pennsylvania.  The Nigerian was an Associate Professor of English at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania while his Jamaican wife was an artist-painter and photographer.  Local police and coroners report said Okafor was enraged because his […]

A local newspaper, Reading Eagle reported that the service took place on Wednesday night at the Hope Baptist Church in Reading, Pennsylvania.

 The Nigerian was an Associate Professor of English at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania while his Jamaican wife was an artist-painter and photographer.

 Local police and coroners report said Okafor was enraged because his wife left him several days earlier.  He shot her and later killed himself on Sunday in the home of his sister, Patricia Ofilin.

 At the memorial service, Pastor Jeffrey Bell Sr. urged the congregation to look to God for guidance to overcome the tragedy that had befallen the church.

“We are hurting, Lord, and we need you now more than ever before,” a county newspaper, Reading Eagle quoted Bell as saying.

“Two of our members were taken from our midst and, Father, we pray you continue to give us the Grace we need to withstand our loss,” he said.

 Cheryl was said to have attended services at the church on Sunday, few hours before she was fatally shot by her enraged husband.

 The cleric announced that burial services for Cheryl has been scheduled for Saturday while that for Chukwudubem would take place on Tuesday at the Hope Baptist Church.

 He urged the congregation to tend to the needs of the children of the dead and Patricia Ofilin, whom he said “cannot bring herself to return to her home.’’ (NAN)