Joshua Shawn Kestner

Joshua Shawn Kestner, 23, of Poteat Ct., Lenoir, NC died Monday, March 2, 2009. He was born in Burke County on May 2, 1985 and was the son of Timothy Kestner of Granite Falls, NC and Tammy Johnson Kestner of Morganton. Joshua was always passionate about sports including wrestling, track, football, and basketball. Joshua excelled in baseball both in recreational league and American Legion Baseball, and in competitive cheerleading. He was a U. S. Army veteran and served his country in both Korea and Iraq.Surviving in addition to his parents are his daughter, Jordan Caroline Lawrence-Kestner, whom he loved dearly; sisters, Myria Burge and Catina Kestner; his companion and Jordan’s mother, Ashley Lawrence, all of Morganton; paternal grandmother, Iwana Kestner, of South Carolina; maternal grandparents, Kyle and Mary Johnson of Morganton; and his maternal great-grandmother, Hope Johnson of Newland, NC.The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes before the funeral hour. The funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2009, at Morganton Freedom Church of God with Pastor George Logan officiating. Burial will follow at the Johnson Family Cemetery in Newland, NC with military graveside rites conducted by the Newland VFW Honor Guard Post #4286 and the Avery High School Color Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family of Joshua Shawn Kestner, 1279 Razor Ridge Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.