Sheriff's Detective Keith Vaughn says officials received a call about 12:30 p.m. Sunday that a body had been found at the Central United Methodist Church.
When parishioner Lilian Wilson didn't show up at the other church, the pastor went looking for her.
Vaughn said Wilson appeared to have suffered blunt force trauma to the head.
Church members say Wilson may have been beaten with a cross.
"It's just unbelievable," said one church member who wanted to remain anonymous.
"We hear it in other places but it doesn't happen here."
Wilson was at the church Sunday to pick up disaster relief buckets to take to another church, said church members.
An animal lover, she volunteered at the area animal shelter and fostered cats in her home.
She also worked with veterans, was involved in the library system, and was a registered nurse who had retired after working many years in Memphis.
"We're just in shock, devastated and angry," said longtime friend and neighbor Linda Peeler.
"We're angry that someone would do that to someone that helped so many people. And to do it in a church, that's the hardest."
A side door to the small church now has been boarded over with plywood.
Friends say it's possible someone broke into the church and Wilson surprised whoever was inside.
Peeler said her friend was incredibly caring and she suspects Wilson even offered to help the people who killed her.
"Probably the first thing she said when she walked in the church was, 'Can I help you?'" said Peeler.
"She was 80-years-old. She wasn't a threat to anybody. They didn't have to hurt her."
Authorities have not released a motive but have been unable to find the victim's purse.
They believe the suspect(s) stole Wilson's grey 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis.
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