Staff

Adam has always had a passion for serving those in need and has served many families in the profession of funeral service since 2001. He holds a funeral service license in North Carolina and formerly in Alabama. He is a graduate of the Funeral Service Education Department at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama. He also holds the distinction of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) as a graduate and member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.

As the child of a military family, Adam lived on several Army bases during his childhood in Hawaii, Germany, and Alabama, however, most of his childhood was spent in Alabama. He attended and graduated from Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Alabama, where he met his wife, the former Lesley Edwards. Together they have two daughters: Fern Elisabeth and Mabel Grace "Mae".

Adam joined the staff at Anders-Rice Funeral Home and Cremation Center in July 2013, and in September of 2022, he became the owner and president of Anders-Rice Funeral Home. In his free time, Adam enjoys camping, fishing, spending time outdoors, reading, and studying the bible. Adam and his family are members of Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church of Asheville, and they reside in the Leicester Community.

Lesley Edwards Roper is the daughter of Bobby and Holli Floyd Edwards. She graduated from Jacksonville High School and Jacksonville State University where she majored in Accounting. She assists on services, cares for the staff, and is the bookkeeper for the funeral home.

Lesley is primarliy a homemaker, raising her and Adam's two daughters, Fern and Mabel "Mae" as well as homeschooling them.

Lesley enjoys reading, studying the bible, camping, cooking, and chickens.

Tommy is a lifelong resident of West Asheville. He is a 1974 graduate of Asheville High School, a graduate of Asheville-Buncombe Technical College where he received his Associates Degree in Accounting, a graduate of Mars Hill College receiving his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a 1979 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, GA.

A third generation Funeral Director, he started in our Funeral Profession at the age of 10. Tommy is our former President/Treasurer and is the son of the late James T. "J.T." Rice, Sr. and Doris Miller Rice.

He has been a licensed Funeral Director since 1976, a licensed Embalmer since 1979 and holds his N.C. Life Insurance License.

Tommy was an active member of the Asheville-West Rotary Club where he had served as President and on numerous committees and is a member of the Paul Harris Society. He is involved in many community services and helps serve as a volunteer for many of the non-profit associations.

His hobbies include traveling, reading, hiking, motorcycle riding and boating at Lake Lure.

Daryl is a native of Morgan County, TN and has resided in Western NC since 1970. He graduated from Coalfield High School in 1970 and is a 1981 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, receiving the Scholastic Achievement Award.

Daryl is married to the former Mary Skelton of Asheville, and is an ordained Minister.

Daryl joined the staff of Anders-Rice in February, 2004 as a Funeral Service Licensee. In 2020 Dary retired from his full-time position and now continues as a valuable part-time licensee.

His hobbies include playing gospel music, horseback riding and riding his motorcycle.

Nancy is a native of Burke County, NC and a 1977 graduate of East Rutherford High School, Forest City, NC. Nancy and her family moved to Buncombe County in 1978.

Nancy is the Office Administrator of Anders-Rice Funeral Home, and is the daughter of the late Rev. Dr. John Tiller and Margaret McCracken Tiller. She has two brothers, Rev. Dr. David Tiller & wife, Debi of Smyrna, TN and Mark Tiller & wife, Ann of Candler, several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

Nancy worked in the travel industry for 24 years prior to her joining our staff full time in June of 2008.

She enjoys people, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Lennie was born in Winston Salem NC and was raised in Madison County NC.  Lennie graduated from Madison High school in 2006 and one month later he enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman. He was stationed in Germany and loved exploring Europe. During his time in the Army, Lennie deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lennie returned home to Madison County where he pursued a career in firefighting and emergency medicine and, for a time, a long-haul truck driver. Lennie always had a passion to help people in need and once an opportunity opened for him in the funeral industry, he jumped on it.

After working in a funeral home and observing the lives changed by funeral directors, Lennie decided to enroll in the Mortuary Science degree program at Fayetteville Technical Community College. He is working hard currently on his apprenticeship and nearing completion of his degree. Lennie joined Anders-Rice in May of 2022 and is currently a Certified Crematory Operator

Lennie has a 9-year-old daughter named Aaliyah that is a wonderful upcoming artist. In Lennie’s free time you can see him working on the homestead, fishing, or doing homework. Lennie attends California Creek Missionary Baptist Church.

Natalie was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California. After graduating high school, she attended Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. Since completion of the program in 2020, Natalie has honorably served the families of Arlington, Texas as a first generation funeral director and embalmer. 

New to the Asheville area, Natalie enjoys the outdoors, cooking, being active, spending time with friends and family, and attending weekly bible study. She has a german shepherd- lab mix named Dante. 

Natalie joined the Anders Rice team in June of 2023. Pending licensure in North Carolina, she is honored to assist in serving the families of the Asheville area on behalf of Anders Rice Funeral Home. 

Licensed in funeral service in both North and South Carolina, Chris resides in Hudson, NC with his wife Suzy. Chris has two sons, Christopher and Corey. He joined our staff as our Preplanning Director in June of 2023.

His son Christopher resides in Lenoir with his wife, Amber and their three sons, and Corey resides in Hudson.

Chris and his family enjoy the outdoors, riding bikes, playing disc golf and gardening.

Tim was born and raised in West Asheville and is a graduate of Enka High School.

He married Sally Rogers on June 21, 1970 and together they have five children: Mark, Jr., Matthew, Jonny, Joshua and Lisie as well as 16 grandchildren: Katelyn, Caleb, Chloe, Stella, Logan, Annaliese, Maddox, Bennett, Josiah, Jeremiah, Joyanna, Megan, Sarah, Mason, Carter and Hunter.

Tim spent 45 years in the office equipment service industry with the last 35 years being spent with Advanced Business Equipment and retiring as Service Manager in 2015.

He joined our staff in March, 2018 as a part-time Funeral Director Assistant on funerals and visitation.

Tim enjoys people, bible discussions, camping, and woodworking.

John was born and raised in West Asheville. He married Jonell Thompson February 17, 1961, and they have two daughters: Teresa Gilliam and husband Rev. Gene Gilliam, and Deborah Kane and husband Adam Kane; as well as a granddaughter, Ryon Reynolds and a grandson, Collin Gilliam.

John retired from RC Cola after 36 years of service.

He joined our staff in November, 1990 and worked full-time from January, 1995 to May, 2006. Since then John has continued as a valuable part-time Funeral Director's Assistant.

John has lived in Candler for the past 50 years and is a member and ordained Deacon of Pole Creek Baptist Church.

In his spare time his hobbies include camping and traveling.

Alex is a native of Avery County, NC and is married to Kim Wells Caraway and they have a daughter, Brittany.

Alex worked with Anders-Rice Funeral Home formerly for many years, and has recently returned to our part-time staff in September of 2022 as a Funeral Service Assistant.

Alex and his family are members of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.

John is a native of West Asheville and worked in the gourmet food industry and serviced the Ingles stores for more than 30 years. He is married to Evetta Smith Warren and together they have 3 children: Pam, Curtis, and Annissa. They also have three grandchildren: Alisa, Dwayne, Alex, and many great-grandchildren.

John worked with Anders-Rice Funeral Home from 2005 through 2020, and has recently returned to our part-time staff in October 2022 as a Funeral Service Assistant.

John enjoys socializing, attending church at Freedom Baptist Church, and studying the bible.

Fern Roper is the daughter of Adam and Lesley Roper and is a native of Western North Carolina. Fern enjoys helping her dad serve the families of Anders-Rice Funeral Home by helping to open doors, handing out memorial folders to family and friends at services, and operating the sound system in the chapel.

Fern is an active member of the Sandy Mush 4H Club and a long-time dancer with In His Steps Dance Ministry in Asheville.

Fern enjoys reading, playing with her friends, going to church, and camping.

Mabel Grace "Mae" Roper is the daughter of Adam and Lesley Roper and is a native of Western North Carolina. Mae enjoys helping her dad serve the families of Anders-Rice Funeral Home by helping to open doors and handing out memorial folders to family and friends at services.

Mae is an up-and-coming 4H member with the Sandy Mush 4H Club and is a dancer with In His Steps Dance Ministry in Asheville.

Mae enjoys dancing, horses, playing, and camping.

David helps to serve our families on our part-time staff. 

Grace works as part of our aftercare program reaching out to our families after services to check-in on their well being.

Her greatest passion is to help and serve those in her community. She also enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with family.