Mary Edith Starnes Walden

Mrs. Mary Edith Starnes Walden, 89, of Swannanoa, NC, passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Born on May 24, 1936 in Union Co., NC, Mary was the daughter of the late Clegg and Laura Edith Starnes. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Hayne Nelson Walden, her daughter, Tonia Cheryl Walden, and her brother, Clegg Starnes.

Mary was a native of the Prospect Community of Union Co. She and her husband owned and operated a couple of Montreat and Black Mountain businesses, and later pastored a church in Murphy, NC. She served as Treasurer for the local chapter of Aglow International for a number of years. She was a member of Crossroads Church in Asheville, and loved to study and teach the Bible. She loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her many faithful friends. Mary frequently said, “I have been loved all my life, first by my family, then by my husband and later my children. I have been loved by my church and by my friends and I have been loved by God.”

Surviving are her children: Eric Walden (Carol), Greg Walden, and Gil Walden (Sheila); grandchildren: Corey (Sarah) Walden, Shannon (Francis) Faamausili, Aaron (Sarah) Walden and Andrew (Rosa) Walden; and great grandchildren: Ava Faamausili, Achilles Faamausili, Zeri Walden and Iver Walden; and her brothers: James Leroy Starnes and Joe Starnes.

Funeral services for Mrs. Walden will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27, at Crossroads Church, with the Rev. Dr. J. Michael Brown and the Rev. Wade Zachary officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Crossroads Church, 20 S. Bear Creek Rd., Asheville, NC 28806.