MEMA employee dies after Waffle House robbery, beating

A Mississippi Emergency Management Agency worker who was the victim of a crime at a Waffle House died Saturday.

Reportedly, Eric Hambrick, who sang in churches, had gone to rehearse a solo in downtown Jackson and had stopped at Waffle House off High Street to eat. At some point during that visit, he was attacked.

Someone found him in the parking lot. Hambrick had been assaulted and robbed, police said. Jackson Police Department spokeswoman Colendula Green said JPD received the call from American Medical Response, who had responded to a call of an unresponsive male around 9:30 p.m.

When he didn't show up for work on Friday, MEMA officials tried to contact him. Hambrick died at the University of Mississippi Medical Center on Saturday.

MEMA Director Robert Latham released a statement on Hambrick's death late Sunday night.

"The MEMA family is saddened by the tragic death of Eric Hambrick. Eric was a gifted vocalist who often sang at area churches. He was very engaged with his church and the church youth. He was a dedicated public servant that will be truly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."

Hambrick worked with MEMA for about three years, and was a 20 year employee of the state.

MEMA District 6 Area Coordinator Tina Jordan described Hambrick as a "kind, sincere, passionate guy."

"He struck me as the type guy to give you his last dollar if he thought you needed it. All you had to do was tell him you had a need and he would have helped," she said. "His death was senseless and heartless."

Green said police are piecing the case together. There is video surveillance footage, she said, and hopefully officials will release suspect descriptions in coming days.

Scott Slay said Hambrick helped set up his family with a foreign exchange student who lived with them for a year. His youngest daughter also knew Hambrick through a vocal group and called him "Uncle Eric."

"One of the many things that set him apart was that every practice would end with a prayer time, as they were taught that all gifts come from God and are to be used for praising and thanking Him," Slay said.

Marilyn Tullos said she knew Hambrick through the theater world. She described him as joyful, patient, and generous.

"He was the most patient person I know. He once played Candy Crush continuously from Tallahassee to Hattiesburg without getting frustrated," she said. "He was full of joy and loved to laugh. He always had a story that made you wonder if it could possibly be true, like the time an elephant sat on the hood of his car."

The Tullos family took Hambrick on one of their trips to Disney World, Kaitlyn Tullos said. There's a simulator in which you can design your own roller coaster and the simulator allows you to "ride" it. Hambrick rode with Kaitlyn since her family knew they would get sick.

"When we got out, he was green as the grass outside," she said. "They have a camera in the simulators to record your reactions to them, Eric got very lucky because the camera malfunctioned and didn't record."

Hambrick had many such friends through his theater arts associations.

Cynthia Stuart said Hambrick was her "stage husband" in many productions, and that they were close enough that she considered him her "other brother."

"He was one of the kindest, most gentle-hearted men I knew, and would do anything for anyone at any time. To know Eric was to love him," she said. "He was an excellent listener, and was not one who had to be the center of attention. He was perfectly fine being in the background."

"I loved performing in theatre with Eric. He was always calm and kind and smiling and happy. Anyone could approach him and talk to him," said Steven Densmore, of Brandon. "I will never forget getting to sing with him as he sang about 'The night Dolly Parton was almost mine.' Thank God for Eric. Miss him so much already."

Jessica Wilkinson had known Hambrick for several years and remembers acting in a play with him a few years ago. The two were in 'Pump Boys and Dinettes' in 2006, she said.

"Eric was a talented singer, a funny guy, and a loyal friend to many," she said.

"He was a gentleman. He loved his family and his many friends. He loved his church family, his theater family, his Mississippi Opera family, his Mississippi Corus family, and the many other families of activities in which he was involved," said Stuart. "But most importantly, he loved the Lord. I believe that when he entered the gates of Heaven, the Lord told him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.'"

Kim Proctor's daughter Sarah played in a production of Black Rose's Oklahoma, which Hambrick produced.

"We are both extremely upset. Eric was a kind good man and he will be missed," she said.