Trecia Adele (Testerman) Walters

Trecia Adele Testerman Walters, much beloved daughter of God, the first born to Mervin Dale Testerman and Mary Lou
Smith Testerman on February 7, 1955 passed into eternal Joy and Peace with her Lord on August 12, 2021.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Allen Walters, her son Timothy Michael Walters, her siblings Dale Testerman,
Mary Louise Grady (Mark), and Freda Ann Hyde (Paul); nephews William Mervin Grady (Tausha), Ricky Testerman, David
Testerman, Robert Thorton (Tonya), nieces Elizabeth Grady Arnette (Justin), Shelby Grady Alvarado (Alex), Hannah Evans
(Nick), Maddie Hyde, and Sister-In-Law Mae Testerman; she is also survived by a much loved great-nieces & nephews
Louella Rose and Cora Adele Grady, Bailey, Kayleigh, and Russ Evans, Colton Arnette, Ashton, Rylan, and Meaghan
Thorton, and also many other precious cousins & friends who had the privilege of knowing her. She was preceded by her
father Mervin, mother Mary Lou, and brother Thomas Testerman.
She was a precocious child blessed with many gifts, talents, a keen intellect, feisty sense of humor and an indominable
will. She was a graduate of Morristown Hamblen East High School, Walters State Community College, the University of
Tennessee (Special Education), and Tusculum College (MS Education-With Highest Honors). She first taught at Meadow
View Middle School. It was during this time that she met Michael Allen Walters. The two of them fell in love and were
married at First United Methodist Church in Morristown on April 7, 1979. Both were Methodist and were members of
several local bodies of Christ, but always considered First Church their Home Church.
At their wedding the couple joined the Walters and Testerman Families with the lighting of the Ruth Candle. Over the
years the two families grew together to be much like one family in many ways. Her Walters family include Brothers-in-
laws: David Walters (Beth), Grant Means (Danielle) Evan, Ellie; Evan; Andrew (Becky); Alexander; Sam Walters (Marta)
Ashley (Rachel), Damon (Abigale) Landon; Thomas Brendel (Julia), Elizabeth Horn (Justin) Ansley and Nola; Mark Walters
(Mary) and special nieces Julie Jenkins (Cody) Sawyer Grace [who referred to Trecia as Grandmother Trecia]; Jill Lamb
(Brady). Mark, Mary, Julie, and Jill are true friends, loving family and special care givers on a near daily bases throughout
the last days. Thanks to this group that was able to arrange a trip to the beach after Trecia went on Hospice and then
David and Beth for helping with the awesome deck party on the Saturday before she passed when over 80 people came
and visited with her in her home. That was a special celebration that Trecia enjoyed completely! She will also be missed
by special friends Gary and Norma Lee and Garth and Lois Symington, as well as many special friends too numerous to
list.
After they were married Michael’s career with Honeywell took them to Knoxville. They bought their first house in
Powell, and traveled extensively with Michael’s work. Trips to Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, San Diego and
Boston were common, and a shared love of visiting both new and familiar places would keep them hopping through 42
years of marriage. Among their favorite trips were cruising to Hawaii, Alaska, Cuba, visiting nephew Bill Grady and his
family in Germany and going as far as Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Trecia began working at Carter High School in 1979, and she and Mike would later move to Strawberry Plains in 1982 in
order to be closer to her work and their families in New Market and Morristown. On their 3 rd anniversary they
welcomed a gift from God, a beloved son, Timothy Michael Walters, into the world. They took seriously the raising of
their son. As Trecia poured her considerable energy, talent and love into her family she was also very active in the
community where she made her life.
Teaching at Carter High School for 23 years, Trecia was an unabashed champion of her students and an integral part of
the educational community of Carter & Strawberry plains – overseeing or helping with a wide array of activities ranging
from home schooling assignments, prom committees, fund raising events, and athletic events. She loved the church, and
was also very active in her community of Faith, enjoying being an active member of church choirs, music programs, and
other leadership positions, including a stint as Methodist Youth Church Group Sponsor at Strawberry Plains United
Methodist Church. Her desire to help others also led her to be positions a leading member of the formation committee
that started Habitat for Humanity in Jefferson County. For many years she was a club sponsor for a Modern Woodman
Youth Service Club. She spent countless hour encouraging and counseling students, friends, and family.

She was nominated as a Disney Educator of the Year and later received the Educator of the Year of Hamblen while
teaching at Morristown West during the final 7 years of her career. After retiring she worked as a tutor of Math and
English at Pellissippi State, bringing the same determination to help students forge ahead in life that she had shown
through the 33 years she spent teaching high school students. She was also involved in many business enterprises
including TES Furniture and Brightway Insurance the Walters Agency, both in Morristown.
Her special love was music and singing. She very much enjoyed attending KSO Concerts and other live music events. She
enjoyed working with the youth and older adults. She truly walked the walk of her faith. Through all of the ups and
downs of her life, including her long battle with cancer, she never lost her Joy or Faith and stood as a beacon of Light for
all who knew her.
Her passions were Faith, Family, and Others. She was an encourager and builder of people, a true servant of Christ, and
she will be greatly missed by everyone that encountered her, even for a moment!
The family will receive friends on Saturday September 11, 2021 at First United Methodist Church in Morristown from
4PM till 6PM with a Celebration of Life Service to follow.
In lieu of flowers make a donation to First United Methodist Church, 101 East 1 st North St., Morristown, TN 37814,
Cameron United Methodist Church, c\o Kathy Little – 903 South Sherbrooke Circle, Mount Carmel, TN 37645, Bellamy
Cemetery – c\o Peggy Barbour, 329 Barbour Hollow Lane, Gate City, TN 24251, Daily Bread Community Kitchen, 118 S
Cumberland St. Morristown, TN 37814 or the Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation of your choice.
Allen’s Funeral Home in Morristown are in charge of the arrangements.

In 1974, at the age of 18, she wrote the following in the high school annual of one of her close friends:

Well we’ve had a HECK OF A TIME and probably will continue to have one. What will we do without our juniors like
Sally? I don’t think lunch can be the same without them! Think of the future “friends” we’ll make – probably end up
getting married to someone from Alaska – knowing us that is probably what will happen.

I wish you life- free given by God to all who wish to embark upon the journey. Sometime will pass by on a crossroad and
maybe we’ll have a picnic together but life twists and turns and like the waves comes in and go out we’ll float together
and apart but never alone or very far in the distance. I’ll see to that. May you embrace the love that life gives to each
who cries or laughs or smiles and let the wind carry your song far into another land of wishes for all to enjoy.

Peace and Love, Trecia Testerman

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