Selmer, Tenn. ? Members of the congregation planted flowers Saturday outside the Fourth Street Church of Christ as they waited for their minister’s wife to be brought home to face first-degree murder charges in the death of her husband.

The gardening project and a spring cleanup had been planned weeks ago by Matthew Winkler, the 31-year-old minister who was shot to death at the parsonage he shared with his wife, Mary, and their three young children.

“We’re doing this because Matthew wanted us to,” church member James Turner said as he dug a spade into the dark soil of a flower bed.

“It keeps us busy,” said Jimmie Smith, a retired counselor.

Police found Mary Winkler, 32, and her daughters late Thursday about 340 miles from home in Orange Beach, Ala., where she had rented a condo.

She did not resist extradition, and Saturday afternoon McNairy County sheriff’s deputies brought her to jail in Selmer, a west Tennessee town about 80 miles east of Memphis.

Mary Winkler said nothing and kept her head down as she was taken from an unmarked police car into the building.

Police said she confessed to the killing and she was charged Friday with first-degree murder, a crime that requires premeditation.

Authorities refused to disclose a motive.

“Listen, the Mary we knew didn’t do this,” Anita Whirley said as she planted purple, yellow and red pansies. “She was a wonderful person. We just don’t understand.”