Tesha Bananda

    Tesha Bananda, 65, of Mill Spring passed away peacefully, Friday, January 28, with her family by her side. The Imlay City, MI native was born August 24th, 1956 to Charles and Rita Wilcox. Her birth name was later changed for spiritual reasons. Tesha graduated from High School and proceeded to study the culinary arts with Hippocrates Institute and other schools and fine restaurants. She started several health food stores and an organic restaurant in Mt. Dora, FL before moving to Mill Spring in 2012. 

     She met her husband, Lee Emerson in Florida in 2001, and they were married in a special ceremony on March 3rd, 2008 on the French Broad River. Together they started an organic farm in Mill Spring and Tesha shared her cooking skills with many in the community. Her baking skills such as her "Cowboy Cookies" were cherished by many in the local community, and her talent cannot be easily replaced. She was always positive and helpful to others and was loved dearly by everyone because she allowed them to be who they were without judgement. She started Zen Yoga in Mill Spring, and walked a very strong spiritual path of kindness and service

     Those left to cherish her memory include her husband Lee, her three daughters and husbands, Dana and Scott, Jill and Geoff, and Tawnya and Todd. Her grandchildren include Shelby, Amanda, Scottie, Beau, Sebastian, Alexander and Abagail. Her brothers and sisters are Jim, Bob (Karen), Susan (Randall), Chuck, Roger, and Dan (Kelly). Tesha had many Cousins, Nieces, and Nephews that loved her very much.

 Two memorial services will be held. The first will be 1 PM Saturday, February 12, 2022 at Zen Yoga (her school), on Highway 9 in Mill Spring next to the Mill Spring Farm Store.

The second memorial service will be 1 PM Saturday, February 19, 2022 at the Polk County Republican Party headquarters at 33 Peak Sreet, Columbus, NC.

Sanders Funeral Home.

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