Karen is survived by her sons, John and Michael Edwards, her daughters-in-law Diana José-Edwards and Sarah Edwards, her grandson, Alexandre José-Edwards, her mother, Bobbie Stone, her sister, Janet Ingram, and her brother, Ben Stone. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bob Edwards, and her father, George Stone.
Karen was born in Dallas, TX on October 23, 1950. She started college at Howard Payne University, but then transferred to Baylor University in order to marry her high school sweetheart, Bob Edwards. After graduating from Baylor, she worked as an elementary music teacher while Bob finished his seminary degree in Fort Worth, TX, and continued her teaching while he started his career as the pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Janesville, WI. The following year, in 1976, John was born, and Karen decided to focus on being a full-time mother. Michael was born two years later in 1978.
Karen was always active in her church and regularly played piano, taught Sunday School, and organized church events. At Southside she might be cooking for a church potluck one day then helping a group of Hmong women become acclimated to life in America the next. Eventually, Karen and Bob felt called to start a new congregation ministering to the inner-city in Minneapolis, MN. After a very cold move to Minneapolis in January 1985, and many months of hard work, New Hope Baptist Church was born from their combined efforts.
Once again, Karen took on many roles at this new church, from teaching Sunday School, to driving congregants to and from church, to supporting the missions of the church, to organizing the order of service. She became increasingly active in the Women’s Missionary Union. She also continued raising two boys, and eventually went back to work--a job that turned into an almost twenty year career in human resources at Wells Fargo Bank.
Bob died in 2002, and Karen remained active at New Hope for the next several years, helping their transition to a new pastor. Eventually, however, she decided to move back to the Dallas area, to be closer to her family. She moved into a house in Rowlett, TX, and worked for several years at The Well Community, ministering with the mentally ill in Oak Cliff. And she found support at a new church home, Transformation Anglican Church in Rockwall. This past August, after being diagnosed with liver cancer, she moved to St. Louis to spend her last few months with her son, John, his wife Diana, and her beloved grandson, Alȇ.
Karen was a vibrant, kind, and extremely generous woman. She will be missed.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2:30 PM, Sunday, November 18, at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church on 9810 La Prada Dr, Dallas, TX 75228. All are also welcome to come to a visitation the previous evening, from 5pm to 7pm on Saturday, November 17, at Grove Hill Memorial Park, 3920 Samuell Blvd, Dallas, TX 75228.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to New Hope Baptist Church, 2525 5th Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55404. Otherwise, flowers may be sent directly to Grove Hill Memorial Park.
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