The phones were ringing off the hook all day at London’s Cornerstone Assembly of God Church, once word got out that Jeffrey Stephenson was the man found dead inside a Corbin home.

“I’ve been in the ministry for 60 years and I’ve had the best relationship with him as an associate as anyone I’ve ever had,” says Rev.Troy Boggs, the pastor of Cornerstone Assembly of God Church in London.

The 49-year-old Stephenson along with Rebecca Manning, 33, were found inside the Florida Avenue home. Police suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. The incident came just two weeks after Stephenson resigned his role as associate pastor of the young London church.

“So it’s really been a distress on me and the church. We loved him and his dear wife, Cathy, and we’re praying for her and their family,” says Boggs.

Police went to the home after they say Stephenson’s landlord became concerned when he hadn’t been seen for several days. Boggs says he’ll be officiating Stephenson’s services when his funeral is held in his hometown of Monticello.

“Our church loved him like I did dearly, and we don’t have any misgivings other than we are sorry that we lost him,” said Boggs.

Services for Rebecca Manning are being handled by London Funeral home in Laurel County.