CHRISTIANA — The wife of a Murfreesboro-based radio station president died after a tornado touched down overnight in Middle Tennessee.

Angie Walker, 41, was killed after a storm swept through the family's Christiana home, WGNS radio reported mid-Tuesday morning.

A prayer vigil will be held for the Walker family at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night at Eagleville School, 500 Highway 99.

The National Weather Service in Nashville confirmed an EF-2 tornado with winds that reached 135 miles per hour touched down overnight in Christiana, an unincorporated community in Rutherford County located about 45 miles south of Nashville.

Walker, who was married to station president Scott Walker, was just 10 days shy of her 42nd birthday.

"It's with great sadness we report the passing of Angie Walker in the Tuesday morning storm that occurred in Christiana," the station reported Tuesday. "It was the Walkers' home that was directly hit by the storm... The family would like to thank the community for their love and support during this tragic time."

House flipped upside down

The home at 8050 Midland Road, where Walker lost her life, is completely flipped upside down. The family had lived in the custom-built home around a year.

The subfloor of the house, as well as ductwork and insulation, is completely visible. Debris is strewn from the area around the home and to the road. The brick and iron fence at the front of the house is undamaged.

Some trees behind the house are snapped in half, but much of the woods behind the home remain visibly untouched.

Walker was a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, where she served as an adjunct psychology professor, said university spokesman Andrew Oppmann.

"Our #TRUEBLUE community mourns MTSU alumna Angela Walker, an adjunct professor of psychology, who died in the severe storms that struck Rutherford County early (Tuesday) morning," the university posted on its Facebook page, which included condolences to her family and friends.

MTSU held a moment of silence for Walker before the men's basketball season opener Tuesday evening against Lees-McRae at Murphy Center.

Walker had 'joyful spirit'

Leslee Nelius remembered Walker as someone with “a joyful spirit.”

“I could say so many things about her. … She was always encouraging, always uplifting, always sharing (of herself),” said Nelius, who went on three different mission trips with Walker through New Vision Baptist Church, where they were both members.

On those trips, Walker was also someone who “took care of everybody,” Nelius said.

“She had a bag full of stuff and if you needed it, she had it,” said Nelius, recalling some of the mission trips where essentials could get scarce.

Taking care of everyone was just one of the ways she was the “hand and feet of Jesus,” Nelius said.

Walker was always doing acts of service for the community, and her “infectious smile and laughter” were memorable to everyone she met.

And Walker’s kind words and deeds were felt through her warm hugs.

“She loved well and she served well,” Nelius said. “And she loved the Lord with her whole heart, and wanted everyone to know him. … You could see Jesus in her through her (actions). … She shared Christ’s love with everybody she met.”

Although Walker will be missed greatly, Nelius said she’s confident her friend is “at the right hand of Jesus.”

How you can help

The victim's mother-in-law, LeeAnn Walker, asked those wanting to support the family to be patient.

”I can’t tell you what they need. People want to help but it’s too soon to think," she said Tuesday morning.

In addition to his role at WGNS, Scott Walker is known for photographing and assisting the homeless population in Murfreesboro.

Linebaugh Public Library Carol Ghattas with the Rutherford County Library System called Scott Walker a great friend to the library.

"Please keep him and his children in your thoughts and prayers," Ghattas said Tuesday.

More:How you can help Christiana residents, emergency crews after EF-2 tornado

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.