Ethel Berniece Holder Asher, 81, of Elizabethton, the only child of the late Roy and Addie Bailey Holder, who was born on November 9, 1932 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Elizabethton, passed away Saturday, July 12, 2014, at Ivy Hall Nursing Home.
Berniece loved the Lord and people. She was often heard praying for not only her children, but her neighbors and neighbors’ children. She opened her home to many friends and strangers over the years. She prepared meals for multitudes of people in her home, at Camp Ta-Pa-Win-Go, Graham Bible College and Smokey Mountain Church Camp. She had a great love for music and was always ready with a song.
Berniece was a 1950 graduate of Unaka High School, attended East Tennessee State Teachers College and Graham Bible College, Bristol. She was a member of the Elizabethton Alliance Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Joe Asher; her half sisters, Geneva Holder Butner and Jeanette Holder Huskins; and her grandson, Marcus Jason Asher. She mothered six children, but was a mother and grandmother to many.
She is survived by her six children and their spouses, 18 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Her Children: Mike and Bertha Asher, Rachel and Earl Miller, David and Donna Asher, Phil and Glennie Asher, Prissy and Kelly Smith, Hope and Mickey Rambo.
Her Grandchildren: Mike and Larissa Hubbard, Bridget Simpson, Windy Bunten, Jacqueline Caldwell, Jennifer Davis, Heather Bunten, Amy and Patrick Nave, Adam and Rachel Asher, Spencer and Danielle Goodwin, Brian and Kellee Asher, Bradley and Mary Asher, Emily Asher and Justin Campbell, Sean and Melissa Smith, Katy Smith, Jacob Smith, Marta Smith, Marcia Smith, Ashley and Jarrett Taylor.
Her Great-Grandchildren: Austin Asher, Jordan McKinney, Tatum Street, Jada Harrison, Jaden Bunten, Jackson Bunten, Kenedy Bacon, Trenedy Bacon, Nathan Davis, Brittany Nave, Logan and Natalie Nave, Adelynn Asher, Hunter Goodwin, Lakely and Landrie Asher, Nolan Bradley, Alysha Salyer, Easton Asher, Brooklyn Campbell, Talia Smith and Breeona Taylor.
Funeral services for Mrs. Asher were conducted at 7 p.m. Monday, July 14, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with Pastor Luis O’Bourke and the Rev. Steve Nauman officiating. Graveside services and interment were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, in the Garland Cemetery with the Rev. Dean Presnell and the Rev. Darrell Holly officiating. Active pallbearers were her grandsons. Honorary pallbearers were the many lives she touched through the years and her greater church family. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to Judy Deloach and the staff of Ivy Hall Nursing Home and Caris Hospice and her roommate, Doris Richardson. To those who prefer, memorials may be made in memory of Mrs. Asher to the CBM Camp Ta-Pa-Win-Go, 111 CBM Camp Road, Watauga, TN 37694, The WHCB Radio Station http:/whcbradio.com/support-whcb/ or Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, FL 32862 or https://www.wycliffe.org/donate. The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Friends may also visit with any of the children at their residence. Condolences may be e-mailed to mfc@chartertn.net.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Asher family.