Arblia (Neal) Tennessee, 91, of Ayer

AYER: Arblia (Neal) Tennessee, 91, transitioned from this life, in the wee hours, Sunday, October 26, 2025. at Leominster Hospital, after a brief illness. Arblia was born in Clayton, LA, October 31, 1933. Known by her family as “Sister” and later as “Bea” by friends, she was the eldest daughter of three children (siblings, the late Henry Neal and Ida Bowman) to the late Abe and Mary Neal. She was baptized September 1946 and became a longstanding member of St. Mark Baptist Church, before finally joining New Hope Community Church in 1994. In 2023, she was asked to serve as Mother of the church until her death. She was famous amongst the congregation for her pastoral encouragement of “Tell the truth.” Many of her friends in the community, having preceded her in death, asked that she provide watch-care for their children and she was more than honored to do so. On January 14,1951, she married the late James Tennessee and traveled the world as an army wife, before settling in Ayer, in 1972. She spent a good portion of her life as a wife and homemaker but decided she wanted to make ‘her own money,’ She took a job working for Injectronics Corporation in Clinton but later went to work for and retired from Foster Grant in Leominster. Arblia is survived by two sons; Roosevelt Proctor (Dorothy) of Leominster, Oliver Tennessee of Ayer, two daughters; Olivia Tennessee of Lithonia, GA and Brenda Burwell of Ayer, a godson, Sebastian Turner, of Caraco, LA and a goddaughter, Candice Terry of Fayetteville, N.C. Known as “MaMa”, she delighted in the love of 17 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Jessie Neal of Clayton, LA, a devoted and steadfast friend of more than 50 years, Mae Francis Reevers, several cousins, numerous nieces, nephews and a multitude of beloved friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, James and two sons, Ronald Tennessee and Thomas James Tennessee Sr. Arblia’s family will receive relatives and friends at calling hours from 4-7 PM Friday, November 7, 2025 at the Anderson Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Road, (Rte 2A) Ayer. Her funeral service will be held 10 Am Saturday, November 8, 2025 at New Hope Community Church, 139 Sandy Pond Road, Ayer. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, Ayer.

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Arblia (Neal) Tennessee, 91, of Ayer

October 31, 1933 - October 26, 2025