FORT WORTH – A co-worker said Lindsay Gardner was just 22 years old when she painted an incredible mural in the Children's Ministry Center of the Travis Avenue Baptist Church.
"We use that mural to announce our new births within the church family," said Celeste Albaugh, the church's minister to preschool.
Sadly, the mural will now also be a reminder of life cut short. Fort Worth police say Gardner, now 27, was found dead and disrobed, laying on top of her baby daughter in a field Tuesday, yards away from where she appears to have crashed her car near Bryant Irvin and Alta Mesa.
"It was difficult," Albaugh says of getting the news. "We all love Lindsay and Hailey. Hailey's only 13 months old. I was there when she was just a few hours old."
The news has knocked the wind out of Albaugh and the entire Travis Avenue Baptist community. Lindsay was a long-time teacher there. Hailey was in daycare at the church, too. And Albaugh says Lindsay's parents, the Groce family, continue to be active in the church on Berry near Hemphill.
"Those children loved her and we were very accustomed to having her every week," Albaugh said.
It could be two more months before we know exactly how the mother and daughter died. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office has ordered more tests.
Caroline McLendon lives next door to Lindsay's parents, who've asked for privacy in this tough time.
"It's a shame to have all the mystery involved in the death because the death enough is hard," McLendon said. "But the circumstances make it harder."
Back at church, teachers are preparing for kids to start asking questions.
"If they asked if Miss Lindsay was in heaven, we could very confidently say that she was," Albaugh said.
A certainty for them, despite so many uncertainties surrounding her death.
A pastor at the church says Gardner's funeral is set for Saturday afternoon.
