Shirley Edwards

Shirley Neil Culbertson Edwards entered eternal life with our Lord and Savior on January 19, 2018. She was born on April 4, 1928 in Coeburn, Virginia to Carl Culbertson and Virginia Crenshaw. Shirley and her beloved husband Judge C. Wythe Edwards, childhood sweethearts, were married in 1945. Judge Edwards was a decorated WWII hero, a devoted husband and father. He preceded her in death on June 19, 1978.

Shirley is survived by her children: Greg C. Edwards (Judy), Anthony Wythe Edwards, Sr. (Vicki), Leslie Edwards de Vries (Ed), Grant George Edwards, Sr., Jeanne-Marie Edwards Melander (Rolf), Sarah Neil Edwards Bradley (Jim); grandchildren Logan Edwards, Jennifer Hall, Laura Freed, Anthony Edwards, Jr., Eddy M. de Vries, Audra de Vries Warner (John), Sarah Anne Edwards, Grant George Edwards, Jr., Eric Bradley and Wade Bradley; great grandchildren Gabriel Diaz, Le’a Nakagoshi, Christian and Lillian Hall, Cole and Riley Nathan, Kendall and Maddox Warner, Allie and Lydia Edwards; great-great-grandson Kainen Diaz.

Shirley was a woman of many accomplishments and remarkable qualities. She was a lifelong reader and could converse on any topic, from history to art to current events. She was a business woman and owned The Yarn Basket with her dear friend Francis Gamble, in Kingsport, Tn. She was an expert seamstress and accomplished in needle point, cross stitching, and knitting. Shirley loved music and passed that love on to her children through exposure to classical music, opera and jazz from a very early age. She was first and foremost a “mother” in the most complete sense of that term. She was devoted to her six children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and put them before all else in her life. A celebration of Shirley’s life will take place in Coeburn, Virginia in June.

In honor of Shirley’s love of animals, you may make donations to Stray Hearts in Taos, 1200 Saint Frances Ln, Taos, NM 87571, (575) 758-2981.