Deanna McLelland Gaither passed away peacefully on Friday, November 6, 2026, at Gordon Hospice House, surrounded by her family and friends—fittingly, in room 7, which she always said was her “favorite, lucky number”.
Born in Iredell County on July 24th 1963, to Evelyn and the late David McLelland, Deanna was the youngest of seven children. She spent her life working hard, chasing dreams, and caring deeply for others.
In 1981, she married her high school sweetheart, Terry Gaither. The life they built together brought them to Union Grove, where one of Deanna’s earliest dreams—being a chicken farmer—was realized in 1993 when she purchased four chicken houses and eventually became a multi-award winning producer. Her farming success helped fund other dreams as well, as she used her very first farming check to purchase a keyboard, which came in handy when she helped form The Remnant Band.
Music, and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through it, was a part of her life from a young age. She loved playing piano in church as a child, and her drive to create didn’t stop even when the farm work grew heavy; in fact, her favorite original song, Searching, came to her while she was walking in her chicken houses, prompting her to race back to the “work room” and scribble the lyrics down on a spare napkin before she forgot them.
But music was only one way in which Deanna connected and gave to others. She was also a coach of several different sports throughout her life, sharing her sense of ambition with others and using her own experience as a decorated high school athlete to guide her teams toward success.
That same ambition also led to her purchasing a struggling restaurant in 2006. Through hard work and determination, she turned this business around, rebuilding it into a place that not only served good food, but also cared for the ones who came to eat it. The Korner Kitchen was joined by the Korner Deli in 2013, and through these two restaurants, Deanna continued to give back to others and build a sense of community around her. In 2017, she also began a successful career as a real estate agent that gave her even more chances to help and connect with others on a more personal level.
She was known for going above and beyond in everything she did, whether for a customer, a client, a friend, or her family. Her love language was taking action, and she spoke it without hesitation or fanfare, doing whatever needed to be done even when it was hard. For this selfless spirit, and so many other things, she will be dearly missed.
She was preceded in death by her father, David McLelland Sr., and her brothers, Douglas McLelland (infant), and David “Davey” McLelland Jr.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Terry; her beloved sons, Douglas (Erin) Gaither and Grant (Stephanie) Gaither; her grandchildren, Cyrus Gaither and Evelyn “Evie” Gaither; her mother, Evelyn McLelland; her siblings, Derinda Rickert, Dawn Pettit, Dale McLelland, and Dan McLelland; as well as countless other extended family and dear friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Deanna’s honor to Eagle Mills Assembly of God (via https://www.emag.church/give or sent to 594 Eagle Mills Rd, Hamptonville, NC 27020).
Deanna's family will receive friends on Thursday, November 12, 2026 at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM. A funeral service will follow in the Chapel beginning at 2:00 PM with Pastor Greg Walters and Pastor Kevin York officiating.
Condolences and messages of sympathy may be shared with the family, online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home of Statesville is honored to be entrusted with the care of Deanna and her family.
