Edna Elaine Edwards
Posted: February 24, 2009
Edna Elaine Edwards, 84, died February 19th in a Norfolk Hospital. She was a native of Aberdeen, MS and the daughter of William Grant Hall and Clara Mae Lockhart Hall. Edna began her adult life in Memphis, TN, where she met her future husband Cdr Donald L. Edwards USN (Ret.). The Navy first brought the couple to Virginia Beach in 1958. Although her husband’s career required periodic moves from the area, Edna always looked forward to orders that allowed a return to Hampton Roads. The couple retired in Virginia Beach in 1976. Edna dedicated an enormous part of her life to volunteer work. She performed over 2,500 hours of volunteer work with the Navy Relief Society. After moving back to Virginia Beach, she worked extensively as a Red Cross blood drive volunteer. She was a devoted member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Lynnhaven Parish Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, Pickett- Buchanan Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Retired Officers’Wives Society. An avid golfer, Edna was active in the Ladies Golf Associations of Oceana and Little Creek for many years. During the time that her husband was stationed at Guantanamo Naval Air Station, she enjoyed golfing excursions throughout the Caribbean. Even after physical problems prevented her from playing golf, she continued to attend meetings of the two associations to which she belonged. She loved seafood dinners at her favorite restaurants, excursions to Pungo in search of fresh produce, & attending the theater and luncheons. Edna is survived by her husband of over 56 years, Donald. She was the oldest of five sisters, all of whom survive her: Mary Stanley of Lenexa, KS, Oneta Nichols and Mary Joyce Gilbert of Columbus, MS, & Helen Fulp and husband Claude of Memphis, TN. Survivors include niece Nancy Nichols Kelly, nephew Michael Stanley, and nephew Robert Fulp. Another niece, Carol Mills Shrader and husband Steve, have lived in Virginia Beach for 23 years and have been extremely helpful as Edna’s health declined. Carol and Edna were great friends and shared many activities together. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home Kempsville Chapel. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at Emmanuel Episcopal Church with a reception following in the Parish Hall. A cemetery service will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk.