Words cannot express the depth of our love and thankfulness for our beloved Elizabeth Grace Hefner, child of God, new creation in Christ, daughter, sister, mother, and friend. The Lord Jesus in His love and grace welcomed Elizabeth to her eternal home after a car accident in Greensboro, N.C., on December 14, 2024, at the age of 30.

Elizabeth was born to loving parents, Pastors Doug and Lori, in September of 1994. She was baptized at a Community Reformation Service in Newberry, S.C. Two years later Elizabeth became a big sister to brother Matthew Hefner.

Over the years she continued to grow in her faith in the Lord as she enjoyed being a part of several churches her parents served. She enjoyed youth ministry, Girl Scouts, confirmation, youth retreats/mission trips, and a national youth gathering in New Orleans to help with Hurricane Katrina recovery.

Elizabeth played the viola and participated in the Salisbury Symphony Youth Strings program. She loved playing tennis and played on the women’s tennis team in both middle school and high school. She graduated from Jesse C. Carson High School in 2013. Elizabeth continued her education by studying business and nursing as she worked in retail.

Elizabeth and family all agree that the Lord blessed us all greatly with the birth of her daughter Gabriella “Gabby” Rose in February of 2012. Elizabeth loves Gabby with all her heart along with Gabby’s father, Matt Bare. Gabby loves her mother very much and looks just like Elizabeth when she was a child. It was such a joy to see them together. Those great memories filled with love and joy continue to bless our lives.

Elizabeth loved to decorate her home and loved to cook, skills she learned from her mother Lori. Lori and Elizabeth were very close, which made Lori’s death in 2020 very painful. Elizabeth served as a waitress for a few years. She had talents in many areas and wanted to go back to school to start a new career path. Elizabeth loved celebrating the holidays with family, especially Christmas. At Thanksgiving she had decorated her home for Christmas and had already bought and wrapped Christmas presents for Gabby and the family.

Elizabeth was also very close to her Nana and Papa, Myrna and John Van Ravestein. The family has great memories of gathering at their home at Lake Norman, especially for holidays and birthdays, and for vacations at Atlantic Beach, N.C.

Elizabeth is survived by her father, the Rev. Doug Hefner; her brother, Matthew Hefner; her beloved daughter, Gabriella Rose Bare; her grandparents, John and Myrna Van Ravestein, and Jack Hefner; uncles and aunts, Derrick and Jenny Van Ravestein, David and Tammy Pressly, and Jeff and Tina Hefner; and many cousins.

Family greeting her in heaven will be her mother, the Rev. Lori Hefner; great grandparents, Buddy and Ruth McCall and Nora Deaton; and cousin Joshua Van Ravestein.

A worship service giving thanks to God for Elizabeth’s life and eternal life will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Statesville on Saturday, December 21, at 2 p.m. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 12:30 until 1:45 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 4536 Hickory Lincolnton Highway, Newton, NC 28658.

Please share your condolences, a memory or a picture with the family at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the care of Elizabeth and her family.