By Cara Cowan Watts | Cherokee 411
July 13, 1975 – July 22, 2026
Knoxville, TN
Eastern Band Cherokee Indian Citizen
Amy Zaccardi Yerka, age 51, of Knoxville, died Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at Parkwest Medical Center, following a brave fight for over a year against cancer. Born July 13, 1975, Amy was the daughter of Vincent and Anita Zaccardi; the wife of Dr. Stephen J. Yerka, archaeologist with Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians (EBCI), the mother of Maia Lucy Yerka, nurse at Parkwest Hospital in Knoxville; and sister to Brett, entrepreneur in New York, with a delightful wife, Jocelyn, and two young boys, Noah, 7, and Benny, 3. Amy was a respected psychologist, most recently working with the senior citizens of the Cherokee tribe.
Amy was a nature lover, and was happiest to live among the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, near their home in Sylva. She was an eager hiker around trees and flowers, and loved catching sight of wildlife nearby. She also loved the seashore, and collected unique shells as she enjoyed walking on the beaches of Florida, South Carolina, Cape Cod, and Long Island. Amy volunteered at a local pet shelter. She always wanted to have a pet, large or small.
Part of Tullahoma High School, class of 1993, Amy continued her education for undergraduate and graduate degrees in Clinical Psychology at Middle Tennessee State University. She worked closely with the Veterans at the nearby hospital in Murfreesboro, TN.
Amy’s positive personality was the description most often used by friends and family. She simply did not use negativity in her everyday life. Her gentle soul will be forever missed.
