Iris Teague Lunsford

Iris Teague Lunsford, 86, passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 13, 2005, on Madison County property that had been in her family since the early 1700’s. Mrs. Lunsford was born in Madison County and was one of fourteen children born to the late Albert and Belle Teague. All of Mrs. Lunsford’s siblings preceded her in death. She was married to Alfred Kiffin Lunsford, who died in 2001. She was a graduate of Leicester High School and during WW II, Mrs. Lunsford worked as a long distance telephone operator in Washington, DC. After marrying during WW II, Mrs. Lunsford returned to Madison County and lived with her mother until her husband returned from the South Pacific. During the early 60’s, Mrs. Lunsford and her husband owned and operated the Blacksmith Shop at Ghost Town. This venture evolved into the Apple Seed Antique Shop in Jonathan Creek. Mrs. Lunsford also owned and operated one of the first day spas in Asheville at the South Forest Shopping Center, “The House of Beauty”. After her three dauhgters left the home Mrs. Lunsford worked at Square D where she collected many friends and wonderful memories. Surviving are her three daughters, Sandra Lunsford Utter of Madison County, Gail Lunsford and her husband Steve Bardwell of Madison County, and Brenda Lunsford Lilly and her husband Michael of Asheville; three grandchildren, Chapel Gennett and his wife Josie of Alexandria, VA, Cady Eades of Asheville, and Gentle Gennett of Asheville, one great-granddaughter, Cassidy Rose Jenkins and three children of the heart, Chris and Rick Manheim of Asheville and Leslie Hardin Dikman of Tampa, FL. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Piney Grove Baptist Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Her family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Madison County, c/o Pam Gregg, PO Box 69, Marshall, NC 28753.