Earlena Renay Tessay

Earlena Renay Tessay "Lena" Earlena was born on July 5, 1979, in Phoenix, AZ to Pastor Delmer Sr. & Norma Edwards Tessay. As a child, Earlena attended Cibecue Day School and later moved to San Carlos AZ to live with her Aunt Josephine Smith and family. It is here that she attended San Carlos Junior High, graduating from the 8th grade. She later went to Gallup, New Mexico, where she attended Fort Windgate High School. After high school, Earlena moved back to be with her mom and dad in Cibecue, where she held various jobs with the Whiteriver Police Department as a dispatcher, Whiteriver Daycare Center, Cibecue Complex, San Carlos Health Care as a dental assistant, and Hondah Casino. Everywhere she worked her co-workers all said she was a good worker and caring person. In 1996 Earlena began dating Arnold Danford, on March 9, 2001, they were married and began their family with two sons, Lebron and Elisha, and one daughter Autmn. In 2010, Earlena became a member to Blooming Grove Divine Pentecostal Church in McNary, AZ, where she attended with her children and was a church board member. Earlena was a loving and caring person who always loved being around her family…joking, laughing, and cooking for them. She always had nicknames for her uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; however, when it came to her aunties, she upheld much respect, due to their ministries to God. Earlena also enjoyed listening to music and dancing. She will be dearly missed by everyone that loves her. She is survived by her parents Pastor Delmer, Sr. and Norma Edwards Tessay; children Arnoldo, Lebron, Elisha and Autumn; her brother Delmer, Jr.; along with numerous aunties, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her sisters Delmarina Elgo, Crystal, and Christina Tessay.