Nelda Virginia Edwards

Nelda Young Edwards, 74, passed away Friday, July 17, 2015 at her home in Newnan, GA. Nelda was born July 11, 1941 in Toxey, AL at the Young family home to the late Basil Franklin Young and Sibyl Norsworthy Young. In early childhood, Nelda's father died in an accident while working at Alabama State Docks in Mobile, AL. Subsequently, her mother married the late Oliver Clyde Rhodes, Jr., who loved and raised Nelda as if she was his own daughter. Nelda grew up in Mobile and attended Murphy High School graduating in 1959. A member of Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, Nelda also was a Majorette and an Azalea Trail Maid at Murphy High School. She graduated in 1963 from Auburn University where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority and the USAF ROTC Angel Flight. She met Sam H. Edwards, a fellow student, while attending Auburn, and they were married forty five years. Nelda moved to Atlanta in 1966 and attended graduate school at Georgia State University while employed as a High School Resource Teacher in the Clayton County School System. Nelda received the Masters of Arts Degree in English Literature from Georgia State University in 1971 and was employed as an Associate Professor of English at Clayton State University. While in Atlanta, Nelda was a member of Cross Creek ALTA Tennis Team, served as a volunteer fundraiser for her sons' Buckhead Youth Baseball teams, and conducted a support group for Multiple Sclerosis patients in conjunction with the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Nelda and her family moved to Newnan, GA in 1987 where they enjoyed a longtime membership at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Nelda enjoyed participating in The Book Group in Newnan for many years and volunteered at Atkinson Elementary School as a guest reader and story teller. The memorial service will be held Saturday, July 25, 2015 at 4 o’clock at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 576 Roscoe Road, Newnan GA with The Reverend Allan Sandlin officiating. A private family interment will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery. Rather than flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions be made to, Shelter Rescue Please Rescue Me, a charitable animal rescue located in Newnan, www.shelterrescueinc.org, P.O. Box 72571, Newnan, GA 30271, or to the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 950 East Paces Ferry Road, NE, # 110, Atlanta, GA 30326. Condolences can be expressed online at www.mckoon.com Survivors include husband, Sam H. Edwards of Newnan; sons, Judson Samuel Edwards of Seattle, WA, Hunter Young Edwards and wife Crandall Sproul Edwards of Newnan; grandchildren, Franklin Young Edwards, Virginia Mae Edwards; sister, Lynne Rhodes Duke & husband Andrew of Mobile, AL; nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory (770) 253-4580

Nelda Virginia Edwards

July 11, 1941 - July 17, 2015