Maria Anne Elder

July 25, 1950 - December 24, 2014
Maria Anne Elder

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Maria Anne Tesnear Elder, 64, of Gastonia, and formerly of Asheville, went to be with Jesus on Christmas Eve after a period of declining health.

Born in Gaston County, Maria was the beloved daughter of the late Juanita Tesnear Burch and the beloved granddaughter of the late Edward and Annabell Tesnear.

Maria is survived by her two sons, Darren Hester of Monroe and Michael Hester of Belmont; two daughters, Marcia Wilson and Beverly Edney, both of Asheville; two sisters, Judy Broyles of Mint Hill and Diane Tesnear of Hendersonville; two brothers, Robert Tesnear of Houston, TX and James Tesnear of Marshall; her uncle, John Tesnear of Gastonia; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 1 PM Saturday, January 3, 2015 in the Kirby Memorial Chapel of Shuler Funeral Home. The Reverend Sherrill Moore will officiate.

The family wishes to express special thanks to Eddie and Kevin Tesnear for all their support.


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  • January 03, 2015
    Larry shipman says:
    My sympathies for your loss. You are in my prayers

  • January 06, 2015
    DIANE TESNEAR says:
    I woke up this morning and as I have done so many mornings before I reached for the phone but then I remember I can't call you anymore so I just drag myself out of bed and get on my knees and I call you through pray.I call you before I go to bed tonight untill then as we always say LATER

  • January 06, 2015
    DIANE TESNEAR says:
    GOODNIGHT SISSY SAID I WOULD TALK TO YOU BEFORE I WENT TO BED I KNOW YOU HAD A GREAT DAY TODAY I CAN SEE YOU IN MY HEAD YOU HAVE SUCH A HAPPY AND LOVING SMILE ON YOUR FACE.YOU HAD THAT TWINKLE IN YOUR EYES AGAIN.I COULD HEAR YOUR LAUGHTER.I LOVE YOU I MISS YOU SWEET DREAMS IN HEAVEN.TALK TO YOU TOMORROW LATER

  • January 08, 2015
    DIANE TESNEAR says:
    GOOD MORNING BEAUTIFUL SISSY IT IS PRETTY COLD HERE THIS MORNING HOPE YOU RESTED GOOD LAST NIGHT I DID PRETTY GOOD. I SURE DO MISS YOU BUT I'M GOING ONE DAY AT A TIME.I LOVE YOU SISSY I WILL TALK TO YOU BEFORE I GO TO BED TONIGHT LOVE YOU ALWAYS LATER

  • January 09, 2015
    DIANE TESNEAR says:
    GOOD MORNING SISSY IT IS A PRETTY DAY HERE TODAY I'M STILL MISSING YOU BUT I KNOW YOU ARE HAPPY & SAFE IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME BUT YOU KNOW ME I WILL BE OK I STILL HAVE JESUS BY MY SIDE AND WE KNOW WHAT A LOVING GOD HE IS I LOVE YOU SISSY TALK TO YOU TONIGHT BEFORE I GO TO BED LATER