HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — As a Thonotosassa man remains in jail on a murder charge accused of killing his mother, the community is remembering his victim, Barbara Sharp.

According to an arrest report, Samuel Parsons, 54 admitted to stabbing his mother, Barbara Sharp, this past weekend. Investigators say Parsons went to a neighbor's house around 8 a.m. on Sunday and told them to call 911.

When deputies arrived, they say they found Parsons outside of the home only wearing a cloth tied around his waist, holding a crowbar above his head. They say he had blood on his body, and he told deputies, "[t]here's a body in there, I did it."

Court documents say Parsons stabbed Sharp with knives, scissors, and hit her with a hammer and shovel. Investigators say Parsons told them he stabbed her to death, "crushing the bombs which were on Barbara's body."

"A smile that would light up the room"

This week, members at the West Thonotosassa Baptist Church are remembering Sharp as a giving person who loved helping other people. 

“The cruelty that went into the attack upon her is hard to envision," said Pastor Jerry Waldrop.

When speaking about Sharp, Waldrop said she was welcoming to new people at the church and would volunteer her time to feed people in need.

“She had a smile that would light up the room," said Waldrop.

Tragedy foreshadowed

But behind that smile, Waldrop believes there was some fear.

“She had expressed those emotional problems to me that her son had, and the discontent, the arguing," said Waldrop. 

Waldrop went on to say Sharp spent a few months living with a friend following issues with Parsons at the home. He says she decided about a month ago to go back home.

The pastor said her friends begged her not to return, but she wanted to help her son.

Those who knew Sharp best want to remember her as the woman she was — someone dedicated to her community and helping anyone in need.

“Her presence, her warm gentle nature as we saw it, was a real encouragement," said Waldrop.