NC Pastor Found Dead, Husband Charged with Her Murder

A North Carolina faith community is reeling after a beloved pastor was shot to death inside her own home in a chilling case that has left family, friends, and church members in disbelief.

Tammy McCollum, a 58-year-old minister at The Well Worship Center in Statesville, was found fatally wounded early Monday morning after police responded to a violent call at her residence. Authorities say her husband, 61-year-old Eddie McCollum, has now been charged with first-degree murder.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, officers were dispatched to the home shortly after 2 a.m. on April 6 in response to an assault with a deadly weapon call. When they arrived, they found Tammy suffering from gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators questioned Eddie McCollum at the home before taking him into custody. He now faces the most serious charge possible in connection with the killing.

The stunning death of the pastor has sent shockwaves through both her church and the wider community, where Tammy was known not only for her ministry, but also for her warmth, compassion, and service to others.

In addition to her work at The Well Worship Center, Tammy had also worked on and off for years at an Ulta Beauty location in Charlotte. Those who knew her there described her as someone who brought light wherever she went.

One former coworker, salon owner and master stylist Van Appleton, said Tammy was one of the kindest people he had ever met.

He wrote that she was “kind, vibrant, and caring” and said she deserved far better than the fate she suffered.

Others echoed the same heartbreak.

Sha’Brittany Evans remembered Tammy as a woman with a beautiful smile and a bright spirit, saying she had been planning to do her makeup for her birthday this weekend before tragedy struck. She called Tammy Ulta Beauty’s best employee and said the loss was devastating.

Church members also shared emotional tributes online, remembering Tammy as a woman of deep faith who loved God, her family, and her church family with everything she had.

Audrey M. Ingram posted video of Tammy worshiping in church and said her personality was full of light. She said Tammy loved serving the community and serving God’s people, adding that she left a lasting mark on the body of Christ.

The killing has also stirred strong reactions among believers who see the tragedy as part of a larger spiritual battle facing churches and Christian leaders across the country.

Digital creator Rick Soup Campbell publicly condemned the murder as a “satanic act,” calling on Christians everywhere to pray for ministers of the gospel and for the grieving congregation left behind.

He said pastors and ministry leaders are under constant attack and urged believers to stand strong in prayer and spiritual warfare as they mourn this horrific loss.

As the murder case moves forward, those who loved Tammy McCollum are left clinging to their faith while trying to make sense of an unthinkable crime. What should have been another ordinary day for a woman devoted to God and her community instead ended in bloodshed, heartbreak, and a devastating loss that will not soon be forgotten.