VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – Anthem confirmed two of their employees with ties to Hampton Roads were killed in the mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio over the weekend.

They were among nine people killed when the suspect, wearing a mask and body armor and using a .223 caliber rifle, opened fire early Sunday.

39-year-old Monica Brickhouse was a former Virginia Beach-based associate for Anthem, who recently transferred to Dayton to work for Anthem from home. Anthem sent out a memo to employees Monday confirming that she and another associate had been killed in the mass shooting.

Monica was married to Anthony Brickhouse. His uncle said she made Anthony a better man. “When I met Monica, I met her through my nephew and she changed his life and that caused me to love her in an instant,” Terry Brickhouse told WAVY.com.

They had a son together, 6-year-old Anthony Jr. and Monica was also the stepmother to two other children.

“I have never seen my sister more happy, my nephew so happy. The joy she brought to their family. And it hurts me that that joy has turned into sadness,” said Terry.

Terry said Beatrice Curtis was friends with Monica and had traveled to Dayton to visit her. As confirmed by Anthem, the two worked together in Virginia Beach. They went out for a night on the town when tragedy struck. Both women were killed.

Damian Seaton worked with Monica at the Bank of America call center before it was closed down and relocated. He called her an excellent supervisor.

“She was a positive person. She had an easy going spirit, someone who is going to help you, advise you, in the right way,” said Seaton.

Anthem President and CEO Gail Boudreaux sent the memo identifying the two associates killed in Dayton. It reads in full:

“It is with a tremendously heavy heart that I share we lost two of our Anthem associates to the tragic shooting in Dayton, Ohio, over the weekend. While the random acts of violence are never easy to understand, this latest incident has proven even more heartbreaking with the loss of two of our own.

Beatrice Curtis, from our Virginia Beach office, and Monica Brickhouse, a former Virginia Beach-based associate who recently transitioned to work from home in Ohio, were together Saturday evening in Dayton at the time of the shooting. In addition to being colleagues, Beatrice and Monica had become dear friends working together in the Program Integrity function within our Diversified Business Group. Known for their positive energy and enthusiasm for their work, Beatrice and Monica worked tirelessly in support of those we serve. With a combined twelve years of service between them, Beatrice and Monica represented the very best of what it means to be part of the Anthem team.”

Gail Boudreaux, President and CEO of Anthem, Inc.