Thera Tyner McElmurray

Funeral services for Thera Tyner McElmurray, 90, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 14, 2024 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel with a private burial to follow. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home chapel.

Born Thera Jennings Tyner in Augusta, GA to Rev. Grover Francis Tyner, Sr. and Nellie Whelchel Tyner on August 3, 1933. Thera attended Tift College (now Mercer University) and studied music and Bible. During that time she met Dr. Grady A. McElmurray, Jr. and they fell in love. They were married on her birthday.

Thera worked as a homemaker, piano teacher, and later as office manager for her husband’s veterinary clinic in Aiken, SC. After their retirement, she enjoyed Bible studies, fishing with her husband and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Thera was a strong woman, whose faith and family were the pillars of her life.

She grew up in a Christian home and served her God and His church and her husband and family. She passed on her love and appreciation of music to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Thera and Grady were faithful supporters and board members of Guido Evangelistic Association in Metter, GA. She was always active in church: in the WMU, teaching GA’s for many years, and was instrumental in founding Camp LaVida in Winnsboro, SC. She was also the state vice-president and associational director for WMU. Thera and her husband were active together in the SC Gideons, and she held multiple offices including state president and vice-president of the Gideons International Auxiliary. Additionally, Thera was chaplain for the Trenton Chapter of National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution; vice regent for the Trenton Chapter NSDAR. She also served the American Heart Association in Aiken, SC.

Thera was welcomed to her eternal rest on July 9, 2024 at the age of 90. Thera was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Dr. Grady A. McElmurray, Jr, as well as brothers, Ray Tyner of Albany, GA and Dr. Grover F. Tyner, Jr. of Decatur, GA.

Thera is survived by her older sister, Nell Tyner Bowen of Athens, GA; by her children, Janet Mauldin (Don) of Aiken, SC, Dr. Charles T. McElmurray (Mary Ann) of Taylors, SC, and Nell Norton of Taylors, SC. She was a proud grandmother to her 10 grandchildren: Polly Riede (Robert) of Los Alamos, NM, Alice Bryant (Bradley) of Aiken, SC, Leslie Williams of Anderson, SC, James Foster (Anastasia) of Phoenix, AZ, Lee Foster (Erin) of Hendersonville, NC, Sarah Prabhakaran (Nathan) of Blythewood, SC, Benjamin McElmurray of Bryant, AR, Anna McElmurray of Taylors, SC, Mary McElmurray of Taylors, SC, and Ruth Gosnell (Drew) of Travelers Rest, SC and 13 amazing great-grandchildren.

Thera was recently a beloved resident of Wellmore of Lexington, SC and Rolling Green Village of Greenville, SC. The family appreciates the care she received there, and also through Agape Hospice Care and Interim Hospice Care.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to The Gideons International, Lexington Baptist Church, The Parkinson’s Foundation, or The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).