Belva Edna Vance Tester, 72, of Elizabethton, passed away Friday, May 13, 2016, at Franklin Woods Hospital after an extended illness.
A native of Avery County, N.C., she was a daughter of the late Bill and Alta Hughes Vance. She had lived in Elizabethton for the past 57 years.
Belva was a member of Biltmore Baptist Church. Her hobbies were working in her flowers, her garden, cooking and quilting.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Martha Trivette.
Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Harvey Tester; her sons, Lewis Harvey Tester, Jonesborough, and Shane Edward Tester, Elizabethton; two grandchildren, Joshua Shane Tester and Rylee Shae Tester; and two sisters, Billie Miller and Nancy Townsend, both of Bluff City. Several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
Funeral services for Belva Edna Vance Tester will be conducted at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Mark Grubb officiating. Graveside services and interment will be at 1 p.m. Monday, May 16, at Mountain Home National Cemetery with the Rev. Hugh Hall officiating. Pallbearers will be members of the Carter County Honor Guard. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the staff of Franklin Woods Hospital, employees of Wal-Mart, West Market Street and Browns Mill Road, Johnson City. The family will receive friends from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Friends may also call at the residence of a son, Shane Tester, 103 Hartley Road, Elizabethton. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at noon Monday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Tester family.