wfn.org | AMARILLO PASTOR TRAGICALLY KILLED

["Wilma Shuffitt" <wshuffitt@cm.disciples.org>]

Date: Sept. 30, 2004
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Wanda Bryant Wills
Phone: 317-713-2492
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org 
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

The Rev. James Paul Cobb, 55, of Amarillo, Texas, died suddenly while
riding his motorcycle Saturday after an unfortunate series of accidents.

Cobb was the senior pastor at First Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ). A memorial service for Cobb will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m.
in the church sanctuary. The church is located at 3001 Wolfin Ave.,
Amarillo, Texas.

Cobb was forced off his motorcycle when a vehicle pulled in front of
him. His wife, Jeanne Cobb, was following in a separate car. Minutes
later, a sports utility vehicle struck her husband and sped away as she
called for help. She rushed back to help him and waved for oncoming
traffic to stop, but a van hit both of them. The driver of the van said
that she did not have time to stop because the vehicle in front of her
swerved to miss the couple. Wet roads may have been a factor in the
accident.

James Cobb was pronounced dead at the scene. Jeanne Cobb was flown to
Northwest Texas Hospital where she remains in stable condition.

"The congregation is doing okay. They are doing the best that they can,
and they are still in shock," said Kelly Farris, an employee of First
Christian Church.

Police tracked down a man at a local bar who reportedly drove the car
that initially hit Cobb. The man was taken in for questioning and then
released. Authorities are still investigating. 

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