Churchgoers, family members mourn loss of 'perfectly healthy' man from coronavirus

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - Family and churchgoers are dealing with the devastating loss of a man who passed away Thursday after being infected with coronavirus.

Adolph "T.J.' Mendez's family said the 44-year-old was a healthy man with no serious medical conditions before getting the virus.

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Born and raised in San Antonio, Mendez lived in New Braunfels for the last 14 years and was well-known at Oakwood Baptist Church, where he worked as a Kindergarten teacher.

Church officials declined an interview at this time but Pastor Ray still released the following statement:

Our hearts are saddened for T.J.’s wife and children and they remain in our prayers. T.J.’s family are people of faith, and it’s that faith that has and will continue to sustain them. He was a fine Christian man who was faithful to serve his God and he had a wonderful and supportive family. He was healthy and strong and in no fault of his own was stricken with this dreadful virus. His passing should be sobering to all, that this pandemic must be taken seriously. God the giver of all good things, has given us a brain and we should use it for the benefit of our family and our communities. Follow what our officials have asked of us and we will endure with God’s help.

Mendez's daughter told the Herald-Zeitung newspaper, her father was perfectly health before his test results for COVID-19 came back Tuesday.

He is survived by his wife, three sons and three daughters.