Appomattox church fondly recalls slain pastor

HIXBURG -- A small church, nestled in the tightknit community of Hixburg, was reeling yesterday from a quadruple homicide that took place nearly 20 miles away.

Mark Niederbrock spent almost six years as pastor at Walker's Presbyterian Church and in that time left an indelible legacy on those who he met.

"I don't think he'll ever be out of our minds, out of our hearts," said Margaret Glover, a church member. "As the years go by, Mark will be there with us."

Niederbrock was one of four people found dead Friday at the Farmville home of Debra S. Kelley, a Longwood professor from whom he was separated.

A 20-year old California man, Richard Samuel Alden McCroskey III, was arrested Saturday morning at Richmond International Airport and charged with murder in Niederbrock's death. He is a suspect in the three other killings.

The congregation shed tears and shared hugs as news of their pastor's death circulated though Hixburg, a small community in Appomattox County. A community cookout at the church that drew nearly 150 people on Saturday night continued in the wake of the news, because Niederbrock put much effort into the gathering.

Glover described to a congregation of 58 people how nervous Niederbrock was before his first sermon at the church in 2003.

"I think he thought the walls would tumble down if he didn't do something just right. But I think we were good for him, and I know he was good for us," she said. "He found out that he could be himself, he could talk to us. He did not have to be correct on everything."

The love he felt for his congregation wasn't lost on those who knew him.

"He was a very genuine servant of God. He genuinely loved his Savior, and he genuinely loved his church and loved each of you," said the Rev. Jason Whitener, pastor at Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church in Fishersville. Whitener was an intern at Walker's Presbyterian, and his wife, Kristy, has deep roots at the church.

Instead of Niederbrock standing behind the pulpit yesterday preaching to the congregation, it was the church members who spoke eloquently and freely about the man who was their pastor.

"Mark had a good ministry, but his greatest ministry was service to others," said Richard Jones.

Rev. Joe McCutchen wove his sermon with the tragedy that befell the church's minister. McCutchen read from the Bible the story of Job, himself a man beset by tragedy. Job was a man who had everything and then had it all taken away.

"We do not know why good people suffer, but we know that they do," McCutchen said during his sermon. "We know God tests us but does not desert us."

While much of the church service involved somber, and sometimes humorous, remembrances of Niederbrock, McCutchen also offered a prayer for the man charged in his death.

"Pray for the young man who did this thing," McCutchen said. "No one is beyond the reach of God. Help him understand the gravity of what he has done."

Niederbrock, who at times was accompanied to church services by his daughter, Emma Niederbrock, wasn't one to abandon his congregation in their times of need. To many, he was more than simply a pastor -- he was their friend.

He enjoyed the company of others, and sitting with a group late on a Saturday night, Niederbrock wasn't in a hurry to leave to put the finishing touches on the next day's sermon.

"We'd say, 'Mark, do you have to go home and do your sermon?' He'd say, 'I'll do it later. I'm enjoying myself too much,'" said Marvin Glover.

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or .